May 07, 2024
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San Antonio City Council may soon consider whether to pass a resolution to continue to seek funding for operations at the city’s Migrant Resource Center (MRC). While some will certainly argue for it, I believe the City should consider shutting down the MRC all together.
Make no mistake. I’m proud that we are a compassionate city, and the work being done by Catholic Charities at the MRC is noble and well intentioned. The majority of the people coming across the border are good people looking for a better life, and the resources the MRC provides these people are much needed. The question that remains, however, is whether having a MRC in San Antonio is the best thing for our citizens.
Yes, it’s true that the federal government is funding the majority of our migrant services here in San Antonio. But the money coming to us is not what it once was, and if we want the MRC to continue to provide all of the same services it has been, it’s likely that in the future our city council will be asked whether we want to use our local, San Antonio tax dollars to do so. The city only has so much money. So, should we spend our money on migrant services or on the basic city services that our citizens expect and rely upon? For me it’s easy — our money should be spent on our citizens and on our basic city services first.
In terms of public safety, most people travelling to San Antonio mean us no harm. However, the small percentage of these migrants who are dangerous is not something to ignore. The number of people on the terror watch list caught at our southern border has increased significantly over the past three years, and just last month a Colombian drug lord tied to multiple murders was arrested a few miles away in New Braunfels. On top of that, in 2023 more than 27,000 pounds of fentanyl came across the border — a drug that is taking the lives of our youth on a daily basis. Do we really want to raise the risk to our public’s safety — even if it’s just slightly? I say “no.”
Statistics show an uptick in migrants coming to San Antonio after the MRC was established in 2022 — with people coming here from China, Russia, South America, and other places. Congressman Cuellar — a Democrat — recently voiced his opinion that our MRC, which has provided funding to help migrants travel to other parts of the country, is attracting migrants to come here to San Antonio.
Let’s be clear — the immigration problem our country faces can only be solved at the federal level. Until we get comprehensive immigration reform, which includes border security and an increase in immigration judges to more quickly adjudicate asylum claims, the problem will not be solved. But we are just three hours from the border; this is now a local problem that needs to be taken seriously. If the result of a future council debate is the closure of the MRC, it won’t be because we are somehow less compassionate than we were before. It will be because we are adhering to the notion that we must protect our people and our resources above all else.
Marc Whyte serves as District 10 San Antonio city councilman.