San Antonio's City Council has voted to keep its Migrant Resource Center (MRC) on San Pedro Avenue open, despite a significant drop in the number of asylum-seeking migrants. The vote, which passed with a landslide 10-1 margin, comes at a time when arrivals along the Texas border are at their lowest in three years. Reporting the numbers, the city's Department of Human Services indicated that migrant arrivals have plummeted by almost 80% in the past five months. This downturn has seen monthly figures fall from over 25,000 in December of 2023 to approximately 5,000 in April, as per San Antonio Report.
Despite the dwindling numbers, council members argue that keeping the center open is a precautionary measure against any potential increase in migrant traffic. "There was a time we didn’t have the MRC, and what we had downtown was chaos," Councilman Manny Pelaez stated in defense of the center's continuing operation, stressing the city's past struggles without such a facility. Only Councilman Marc Whyte opposed, seeking a more in-depth discussion on the MRC's future. He conveyed concerns from residents across the city about the possibility of the center encouraging more migrants to be dropped off in San Antonio.
Fiscal support for the MRC comes in the form of federal money. The City Council's recent decision ensures that the Department of Human Services can apply for an additional $18.8 million that can be used anytime before September 2026, alongside accepting $3 million for migrant aid already conducted. "If we don’t vote yes on this today, then that money isn’t used to compensate us for the costs that we’ve already paid," Pelaez explained, highlighting the integral role of these funds in the sustainability of migrant services in San Antonio.
While the city plans to maintain the San Pedro Avenue location for the time being, a second migrant holding center near the airport was closed earlier in the month due to decreased need. The lease agreement for the MRC runs through June 2032, but it includes terms giving the city flexibility to end it prematurely if necessary. Jessica Dovalina, assistant director of the city’s Department of Human Services, addressed cost concerns by pointing out reductions in the scope of operations and the associated price tags. Currently, migrant aid operations cost the city about $800,000 per month, a notable decrease from $1.2 million per month during periods of higher migrant numbers. "We’re ready to scale up if there’s a surge, and we feel prepared to do that," Dovalina told the San Antonio Report, affirming the city's readiness to adjust as circumstances evolve.
