Eagle Pass, Texas - The small town of Eagle Pass is being overwhelmed by the massive influx of migrants crossing the Rio Grande illegally, causing a strain on emergency services and incurring significant costs for the city. According to Fire Chief Manuel Mello, the Eagle Pass Fire Department is responding to migrant-related emergencies nearly every hour, resulting in additional expenses of approximately $21,000 per day.

With an average of 45 emergency medical service (EMS) calls each day since mid-September, of which about 30 are migrant-related, the Fire Department is working tirelessly to address the rising number of incidents. This represents a significant increase from the previous average of around 30 calls per day. Each call costs the department about $700, putting a heavy financial burden on the city.

"We have all kinds of calls from minor cuts and bruises to hypothermia to heart attacks to broken bones to even childbirth. So we're transporting all kinds of patients, and they're all migrants," Chief Mello explained.

The strain on local healthcare facilities is also evident, with Chief Mello noting that sometimes they have to wait up to 30 minutes with a patient inside the ambulance as the hospital becomes overwhelmed due to the influx of migrants.

Migrant encounters at the southern border reached new records earlier this month, with over 10,000 migrants being held in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities near Eagle Pass. Representative Tony Gonzalez, who represents the area, reported that approximately 4,000 migrants crossed into the city on a single day.

Despite the mounting financial burden on Eagle Pass, the federal government has not provided any reimbursement for the expenses incurred due to the migrant surge. Assistant Fire Chief Rodulfo Cardona stated that the city has already lost over $500,000 in responding to migrant-related incidents this year alone.

The impact of the migrant surge is not limited to emergency services. Local businesses are also suffering financially. In response to the December surge, CBP closed an international railroad crossing from Eagle Pass to Piedras Negras, Mexico, diverting resources to assist the U.S. Border Patrol in apprehending migrants. The closure has led to a decrease in shoppers visiting Eagle Pass from Mexico, impacting the local economy.

Chief Mello urged the federal government to take immediate action, emphasizing the need to halt the influx of migrants into the town. He called on the government to allocate appropriate funding and resources to address the growing crisis and to alleviate the mounting pressure faced by the community.

As the situation continues to escalate, Eagle Pass remains burdened by the strain on its emergency services and local economy. The city's plea for support remains unanswered, while stakeholders navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing surge of migrants.