El Paso County has been placed in a financial bind following the increased migrant arrests driven by Operation Lone Star — a situation that has pushed county leaders to issue a disaster declaration. As reported by the Texas Tribune, this move was seen as needed for El Paso to become eligible for state grants to counterbalance the millions in costs incurred from the state's border security mission.
Operation Lone Star, initiated by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021, has led to a significant financial loss for El Paso County. The county, which had steered clear of the program for over two years due to concerns over community trust, found themselves shelling out for the expenses of housing, feeding, and providing medical care to detainees. The program's demands have led to an $11.7 million revenue shortfall that would otherwise come from a federal contract with the U.S. Marshals Service, which pays the county $110 per day per inmate. County Judge Ricardo Samaniego remarked upon the gravity of the situation, saying in a statement obtained by the Texas Tribune, "The numbers are just horrendous."
Detainees associated with Operation Lone Star have taken up considerable space in the county's jail facilities, at the cost of federal inmates who come with a guaranteed return per inmate per day. This reduction in federal inmates means less income for the county, which is already grappling with a substantial $35 million budget shortfall. Ryan Urrutia, assistant chief deputy for the sheriff's office, cited the importance of these funds, which have been used for more than two decades to cover jail operations and other county expenses. County Commissioner David Stout expressed frustration, telling the Texas Tribune, "They have put us in a very precarious situation financially."
Despite the reluctance from El Paso County officials and community members alike, the need to address the budget deficit pushed the issuance of the disaster declaration. A pivotal consequence of accepting state funds, as feared by Melissa Lopez, executive director of Estrella del Paso, would be further entangling in a state mission that has drawn criticism for its approach towards migrants seeking refuge. Lopez stated in a June county commissioners court meeting, which was reported by Texas Tribune, "El Paso County will become another tool in Gov. Abbott’s tool chest to arrest and detain people who are fleeing their countries with no regard for the reasons why they left."
Amidst ongoing discussions for transference of detainees and applications for additional funding to assist with legal costs, the once-avoided alignment with Operation Lone Star has become a reluctant step taken by El Paso leaders to stabilize their fiscal health. While the potential repercussions on community trust and safety remain a concern, with past increases in law enforcement presence after similar declarations, officials, and advocates are left waiting to see the full impact of this decision on El Paso's future. According to Aimée Santillán, a policy analyst at the Hope Border Institute, the waiting game continues, “It’s what happened before. We will just have to wait and see what happens.”
