WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened two temporary facilities on the Texas border with Mexico as part of the ongoing response to the border security and humanitarian crisis along the Southwest border.
The temporary facilities are located in El Paso and Donna, Texas, near McAllen. CBP’s Office of Facilities and Asset Management established the soft-sided structures in response to the unprecedented number of families and unaccompanied children from non-contiguous countries illegally crossing the border.
“Our officers and agents are encountering a record number of families and children on the Southwest border and the U.S. Border Patrol’s facilities are stretched beyond capacity,” said John P. Sanders, senior official performing the functions and duties of commissioner. “I have seen first-hand the dedication and compassion of our frontline personnel who need additional resources to respond to this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. These temporary facilities are necessary to care for and transition those in our custody into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Health and Human Services.”
The temporary, soft-sided facilities will each accommodate up to 500 individuals in CBP custody. They are weatherproof and climate-controlled, and provide areas for eating, sleeping, recreation and personal hygiene.
The $36.9 million contract, which has a four-month base period with four one-month options, provides for shower trailers, chemical toilets and sinks, laundry trailers, sleeping mats, kitchen equipment, personal property storage boxes, office space, interior and perimeter closed circuit television, lockers, security, power and HVAC services.
CBP continues to work with other federal and international agencies to discourage potential illegal border crossers from embarking on the dangerous trip to enter the U.S. illegally.
For imagery related to this release, please visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/TempSoftSidedFacilities