Tent city at Marcelino Serna Port of Entry in Tornillo called disservice to its namesake

Housing undocumented immigrant children at the Marcelino Serna Port of Entry in Tornillo is a disservice to the legacy of its namesake, Texas’ most decorated World War I veteran, El Paso County officials said. 

“The purpose of naming the port in his honor was to underscore the contributions of immigrants to the United States. No member of the Commissioners Court over the past 20 years that this project was underway would have ever imagined that the Tornillo port would serve this purpose,” said County Commissioner Vince Perez, whose precinct includes Tornillo. 

El Paso County partnered with the federal government to build the $133 million port of entry in Tornillo. The facility on the U.S. side is located on 117 acres about 30 miles east of Downtown El Paso — making it the largest border land port in the nation, officials said. 

The international port of entry was named after Serna in 2016. 

More:Port of Entry in Tornillo named after World War I hero

Serna, who was born in 1896 in a small mining town near the city of Chihuahua, volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during World War I. After basic training, the private was sent overseas to join the Allied forces but was later given the option to withdraw because, at the time, he was not a U.S. citizen. Instead, he chose to stay and fight for his adopted country.

Serna’s dedication and bravery saved many lives. He was honored by the U.S. Army with two Purple Hearts and was the first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Serna, who became a U.S. citizen in 1924, died in 1992 at the age of 95. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

"Housing undocumented minors at this facility (or any facility) is a disservice to his legacy and what he fought for," Perez said. 

On Thursday, the Trump administration announced the opening of a temporary shelter for immigrant children in tents at the port of entry.

More:A look inside Texas shelters for unaccompanied minors, including Tornillo's 'tent city'

According to the Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 360 children will be placed in coming days at the tent site. 

On Saturday, Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd said he was told it could expand to 4,000 beds, which he called "totally nuts."

Hurd's district includes parts of east El Paso County.

Buses with children have arrived and children could be seen playing soccer outside tents Friday, according to video filmed by local television stations Channel 14-KFOX and Channel 9-KTSM.

On Sunday, hundreds of people marched in Tornillo against the separation of immigrant families.

More:Beto O'Rourke leads Tornillo protest against separation of immigrant families

County Judge Ruben Vogt said the purpose of building the Tornillo port was to create "a world class port of entry," superior to all others in the country when it comes to technology and trade capacity. He said the goal also was to continue building a good relationship with Mexico.

“Unfortunately, everything is opposite of what we were ambitioning,” Vogt said. “We are now seeing the relationship with Mexico erode. The tariffs that have been put in place could potentially cause a trade war, and we are now seeing what was this potential visionary port of entry turned into a camp that is going to house kids who have been fleeing their country because of violence endangerment.”

More:Migrant children, asylum seekers face tough choices, separation at U.S. border in El Paso

County Commissioner David Stout said opening the immigration camp in east El Paso County is "a slap in the face" to the community. 

"I wouldn't doubt that they are doing it on purpose because this community has always been in the forefront of fighting for immigrants, on the forefront of speaking up against this type of things," he said. 

"Just the fact that the bridge was named for a Mexican immigrant who fought for this country, I think it’s very ironic that we have this happening at this port of entry. It’s sad, it’s unfortunate and it needs to stop," he added. 

County approves anti-separation resolution 

On Monday, the County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 to approve a resolution opposing the federal government’s zero tolerance immigration policy that results in the separation of immigrant children from their parents.

County Commissioner Andrew Haggerty voted against it.

Stout said: “It saddens me and it’s very unfortunate that we could not have a unanimous vote this morning. I don’t think this is a partisan issue. You have people like Laura Bush, who have spoken out against this.  

“I think we all need to stand up and fight against this. This is something that is being caused by a policy created by the Trump administration. This is not the law. This is something that does not have to happen.”

He said, “It’s sad that we are putting border control and politics before the well-being of these children.”

Stout said children stay in custody an average of 57 days before they are either sent to a foster home or to a relative in the United States.

Stout’s comments did not sit well with Haggerty, who became visibly upset and accused Stout of calling him out.

“How I vote is not your freakin' business,” Haggerty, the only Republican on Commissioners Court, told Stout.

He said his vote did not reflect his political position, but he did not believe resolutions “are to be used in this way.”

Aileen B. Flores may be reached at 546-6362; aflores@elpasotimes.com; @AileenBFlores.