While Awaiting a Second Onslaught: Illegal immigrant boasts plan to relocate, steal work from American citizens, Extract money from U.S. economy

11/19/2014

McAllen prepares for "second surge" in illegal immigration

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After two years of saving and a 15 day journey, Manuel Larios and his 15 year-old daughter arrived in McAllen.

"In Guatemala there's a lot of poverty and that causes a lot of problems," he said in Spanish.

Larios finally made the decision to leave his country after hearing on the local news President Barack Obama may soon take action on immigration reform.

"Possibly he will give amnesty to all the people who have entered here illegally but I don't if it's confirmed," he said.

Larios and his daughter are just two of more than 70 immigrants who arrived at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen on Tuesday seeking a shower, warm clothes and a meal.

The number is well below the 200-300 immigrants served at the church during the height of the immigration surge this past summer.

But now more undocumented immigrants are expected to arrive in the Rio Grande Valley in the coming weeks in what has been dubbed the "Second Surge."

"We do expect an increase possibly as early as next week or this week," Josh Ramirez, Director of Environmental & Health Code Compliance for City of McAllen, said.
Ramirez said the City of McAllen is prepared.

"We do have our equipment on standby although it's being utilized this moment," Ramirez said.

McAllen spent half a million dollars this summer in resources and man-power to help manage the humanitarian crisis as hundreds of undocumented immigrant families were released at the McAllen bus station.

Those resources were taken back in September as the initial surge dialed down and are now being used for holiday festivities.

"If needed we have other resources and municipalities that are willing to help us out," Ramirez said.

Larios said he hopes he and his daughter are granted amnesty and believes more immigrants like him will come.

"If they come it's their decision, it is a risk, it will depend on the government on what's going to happen next," he said.

Larios and his daughter will leave on a bus to Alabama tonight.

He said he plans on finding work and sending money back to Guatemala to his wife and three other children.

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