EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – El Paso County officials are celebrating a milestone when it comes to dealing with the years-long humanitarian migrant crisis. Their Migrant Support Services Center has now helped 100,000 asylum-seekers reach their destination of choice.

“This achievement underscores the critical role the center has played in the lives of tens of thousands, highlighting its pivotal position in the ongoing effort to humanely welcome and support those in desperate need,” the county said in a statement Wednesday.

The center opened in October 2022 when more than 2,000 migrants were coming across the border every day in the El Paso region. Its primary role was to swiftly assist asylum-seekers make travel arrangements after their release from federal immigration custody. This contributed to keeping the migrant population in the city manageable, taking stress off nonprofit shelters during surges and preventing people from having to stay on the streets.  

The center initially took in single adults but expanded to include families. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides the funds for the center. It will do so at least until September 2025, according to county officials.

Migrant encounters have gone up and down in the past 18 months, currently averaging about 1,000 per day. Nonetheless, the center remains open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. year-round, county officials said.

“El Paso County remains committed to fostering collaboration and coordination with community partners,” the county said in its statement. “As the (center) celebrates this milestone, it reaffirms its dedication to providing compassionate assistance to those seeking refuge and a better life.”