Home Care In Elpaso, TX

EL PASO, Texas [KFOX14] — The El Paso County judge said the county is taking on the load of what should be a federal responsibility.

The judge referred to the migrants who were processed by state officials and booked into county jails on state charges, rather than federal charges after some migrants attacked Texas National Guardsmen during a border breach on May 21.

County Judge Ricardo Samaniego explained that 39 migrants facing state charges, who were part of the border breach, remain booked into El Paso County jails.

Judge Samaniego said while that number is not very high, it impacts the county’s operations and budget because the state does not reimburse the county for holding those migrants.

“Unfortunately, instead of making it a federal charge -- which we would be reimbursed by the federal government -- this is actually a state charge and we don’t charge the state for that,” said Samaniego.

He added while the group of 39 is a manageable number, the county is worried about the impact on them if the number of migrants booked into county jails on state charges continues to grow.

“Our problem is not what happened, it’s what might happen,” Samaniego said.

Judge Samaniego explained the greatest impact comes from the loss of reimbursement from the federal government when inmates with state charges take up the federal beds.

“The federal beds, we get about $110 per inmate, per day, and that number's been reduced, we’ve probably lost probably like $3 million already in this year.”

He explained that county officials are working to move migrants who face state charges in state-run facilities like the Rogelio Sanchez prison, which is a federal facility that has a section for inmates with state charges.

“That would provide us more space for federal beds and our revenue would come back up and maybe we could catch up with the losses we’ve had,” Samaniego said.

Lastly, he said county officials are working to decrease the costs to the county because if charges continue to come in as state instead of federal, it will either be taxpayers or county services that will feel the effects.

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EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — An independent federal agency named the El Paso Museum of History a finalist for its prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service award.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency that doles out grants and assists with policy development, announced that the El Paso Museum of History is a contender for the 2024 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service.

“The El Paso Museum of History is honored to be a finalist for the IMLS National Medal,” said El Paso Museum of History Director Erica Marin. “It validates and qualifies the urgent work being done to expand the range of voices centered and celebrated in our public spaces. As a part of this shared experience of living on the Border, the El Paso Museum of History has worked against previous status quos to develop a culture of community-first and community-led exhibitions.”

The El Paso Museum of History is one of 30 finalists -- including two others in Texas -- to be selected as a finalist, a distinction it earned in 2022 as well.

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According to a press release from the City of El Paso, the award is the nation's "highest honor given to museums and libraries demonstrating significant impact in their communities."

“Recognition as a finalist for the second time in two years is a testament to the quality of work being done by our staff and the engagement of our community at the El Paso Museum of History,” said Quality of Life Managing Director Ben Fyffe. “We are proud to continue offering our community a rich multicultural and multi-faceted history of our Border region.”

To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging El Paso Museum of History’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media using the #ShareYourStory and #IMLSmedals hashtags, and engage with IMLS on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

The National Medal winners will be announced in late May.

For more information, please visit the IMLS website.

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Three candidates running for a seat on the El Paso Central Appraisal District Board of Directors were unopposed and have been officially elected without having to go through the May 4 election.

The three candidates – Alfred Phillip Gonzalez, a retiree; Melody Jimenez, a consultant; and Silvia Serna, a grant analyst – were certified as unopposed and therefore elected, according to the CAD election cancellation order approved by the current board on March 26.

The election would have cost the CAD about $600,000.

“We were lucky as there was only one candidate for each place (Place 1, Place 2, and Place 3) who will now take office on July 1st of this year. This allowed us to cancel (the election) and save that expense,” CAD Executive Director and Chief Appraiser Dinah Kilgore told El Paso Matters.

The composition of central appraisal district boards to include both appointed and elected members was approved by Texas voters in November 2023 as part of a historic $18 million tax relief bill. Part of the tax relief bill included a requirement that three positions on appraisal district boards in counties with a population of 75,000 or more be elected.

Since the early 1980s, board members have been nominated and appointed by taxing entities within the county, such as the city and county governments and school districts.

The three new El Paso CAD members will grow the board from nine to 13 seats until Jan. 1, 2025, after which the board will again comprise nine members – three elected, five appointed, and the county tax assessor. That means that fewer taxing entities will have appointed members on the board each year.

Appointed members will serve staggered four-year terms starting on Jan. 1 of every other even-numbered year; while elected members will serve their terms beginning Jan. 1 of every other odd-numbered year. Board members are not compensated for their service.

Appraisal districts were mandated by state law in 1971 and were required to be established by 1982. El Paso’s was established in 1981.

The districts are responsible for appraising all property for taxing entities that impose property taxes in El Paso County, such as school districts, the city and county. The rates and the valuation combine to determine how much tax each property owner must pay. The valuations are set based on recent sales of comparable properties or other means to estimate the fair market value.

Mugshots have been released of seven migrants identified as ringleaders of a group who cut fences and razor wire and encouraged hundreds of people to rush the US border at El Paso, Texas, injuring National Guard troops, on March 21.

The migrants — in addition to two others who were processsed and released into the US by Border Patrol— are in custody facing felony rioting charges according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

They are joined by another 214 people who have been handed rioting charges in connection with the attempted incursion at Gate 36 along the border wall, which was caught on camera by The Post.

The group of alleged instigators includes Everisto Benitez Martinez, previously identified as the man charged with stomping on a guardsman’s knee repeatedly during the melee.

Texas DPS was able to identify the group by scrutinizing The Post’s video of the altercation.

The state has issued warrants for the arrest of the two other migrant instigators, Venezuelan nationals Juan Jose Colorado Gutierrez, 34, and Gabriel Enrique Angarita Carrasquero, 22, who are both charged with who rioting, criminal mischief and assault public servant.

El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks told The Post Wednesday one of those accused perpetrators “was just picked up or is being picked up,” while ther other remains at large.

The following are the names of the migrants in custody and the charges they currently face:

The larger group of 214 who face lesser charges includes both men and women from Venezuela, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.

They were originally placed in federal custody, then moved and rebooked into state custody on the rioting misdemeanor charges, DPS said.

“We are more than ready or will be more than ready to go to trial on the case whenever the court sets it for trial,” Hicks said.

“Riot cases are very easy to prove, we’re very confident in our evidence and we’re ready to move forward if any of them actually go to trial. Honestly I’d be surprised if they do.”

The maximum punishment for riot charges are 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. It is more likely the migrants will accept plea deals on the charges against them and after completing any time in custody will be handed over to federal authorities to be deported.

Hicks said the case is being scrutinized at the highest levels, adding: “The district attorney’s office [is] taking this very seriously and obviously the governor’s office is taking it very seriously.”

He also said the actions of the alleged rioters were very unusual for El Paso, which has been at the center of migrant crisis since 2022, with hundreds of thousands of migrants surrendering to border patrol.

“The situation that we had at Gate 36 is very unusual for us here in El Paso. We just don’t typically have that level of violence like that. El Paso for the most part is a very peaceful city,” added Hicks.

Texas has enhanced enforcement efforts at the El Paso border by deploying hundreds of troops, laying more razor wire and erecting many new fences to fortify the area where the riot occurred.

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Senator César J. Blanco hosted a veterans’ roundtable on Thursday with the Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Senator Kelly Hancock, and other Veteran Service Organization leaders for a discussion relating to issues affecting veterans' well-being.

Senator Blanco issued the following statement:

“Today's roundtable provided a unique opportunity to hear from Veterans, highlight ongoing efforts in supporting Veterans, and discuss ways to improve access to essential resources like healthcare, jobs, and education.

“Our veterans have always answered the call to serve with courage and dedication. It is our duty, as their fellow citizens, to ensure that they receive the care, support, and respect they deserve. I am deeply grateful Senator Hancock has taken the time to visit our community, the Veterans Capital of the USA, and listen to our local needs and unique challenges.

“I’m looking forward to continuing working to address the concerns raised today and champion initiatives that enhance the quality of life for those who have selflessly served our nation.”

Chairman Hancock issued the following statement:

“It was an honor to meet with the dedicated members of these veteran organizations in El Paso today and hear their perspectives on the pressing issues facing our nation's veterans. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs, it’s critical that we hear directly from these veteran groups about their needs ahead of the next legislative session. As we move forward into our interim studies, their insights and priorities will help us as we strive to ensure that our veterans receive the support and resources they deserve. I commend their ongoing commitment to advocating for veterans and working closely with us to address their needs.

“I would like to thank Senator Blanco for extending the invitation and look forward to working with his office to advance legislation that improves the lives of those who have served our country.

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