What Changed in El Paso? City Quietly Ends Border Emergency

The border city of El Paso, Texas, has officially ended its nearly three-year emergency declaration over illegal immigration, after a dramatic drop in border crossings following President Trump’s return to office.

Key Facts:

El Paso declared a state of emergency in 2022 due to overwhelming illegal immigration during Joe Biden’s presidency.
The emergency order strained city shelters, filled local hotels, and maxed out NGO resources.
The order was extended repeatedly until January 7, 2025.
In February 2025, the order was quietly dropped as illegal crossings sharply declined.
Border Patrol reported only 7,181 illegal encounters in March 2025—a 95% drop from March 2024.

The Rest of The Story:

El Paso’s emergency order, first enacted during Joe Biden’s presidency in 2022, responded to a border crisis that brought thousands of illegal immigrants into the city.

These numbers overwhelmed public services, filled hotels to capacity, and pushed local support systems to their financial limits.

The city had no choice but to declare an emergency and continually renew the order.

EL PASO TX, LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS capture runners from a camp of approximately 1,000 migrants on US SOIL, south of the border wall. Migrants are seen climbing over the wall and going thru gaps in the old fence. Migrants then flee into the city. pic.twitter.com/30h1McBnM4

— Jaeson Jones (@jaeson_jones) May 6, 2023

That changed after President Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2025.

Since then, illegal crossings have nearly vanished.

The February city council agenda didn’t even include an option to renew the emergency declaration.

“We have not had the need to renew it,” said City Rep. Chris Canales.

Official figures from the White House show a 95% drop in southern border apprehensions compared to the same time last year.

My report of my ride along with Border Patrol in the El Paso Sector, getting a firsthand look at how things have changed for the better since President Trump secured the southern border: pic.twitter.com/Qls2UgV5Xu

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) April 3, 2025

Commentary:

What’s happening in El Paso is more than a local story—it’s proof that decisive leadership makes a difference.

Under Joe Biden, border towns were overrun and unsupported.

Cities like El Paso were forced to take on an impossible burden as federal policy failed to stop the flood of illegal immigration.

President Trump’s return brought an immediate shift.

His administration moved swiftly to restore border enforcement and reestablish control.

The results speak for themselves.

Just weeks after his inauguration, crossings plummeted to levels not seen in years.

El Paso is now breathing easier.

City shelters are no longer overwhelmed.

Hotels have vacancies again.

The emergency that once drained city budgets is gone.

All of this happened without fanfare—no national headlines, no press conferences—but the people of El Paso feel the difference.

This is also a powerful example of how restoring law and order at the border protects American cities and conserves taxpayer resources.

Instead of pouring funds into housing and feeding illegal immigrants, cities can refocus on their own citizens.

The broader economic impact is also important.

Fewer illegal crossings mean less strain on schools, hospitals, and welfare programs.

The savings—both financial and social—are significant.

El Paso used to be a hotspot for human smuggling and chaos.

Now it stands as a model of what happens when a strong, clear policy is enforced at the federal level.

The Bottom Line:

El Paso’s quiet end to its border emergency is a direct result of President Trump’s renewed border enforcement policies.

Illegal immigration has slowed to a trickle, and local resources are no longer overwhelmed.

It’s a powerful example of what can happen when the federal government prioritizes national security and the rule of law.