Biden reaches out to Texas; tries to add allies on the border – Zócalo newspaper

Houston, Tx.- The president of United States, Joe Biden, visited yesterday Houston, Texas, after a storm that devastated the state with snow and low temperatures, where thousands of homes were left in darkness for days and faced lack of water due to damage caused by bad weather.

“ Our prayers are with you after this winter storm, “Biden said before leaving for Washington.

During his speech, he stressed that his Government will be a “long-term” partner with Texas authorities to help rebuild that state from the ravages of the storm, as well as the pandemic and the economic crisis.

The President, who traveled with his wife, Jill Biden, highlighted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided “millions of gallons of water” and food, as well as direct assistance to uninsured homeowners “to repair the damage that burst pipes caused to millions of homes across the state.”

The leader of the Executive, who was received by the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, legislators and other local authorities, pointed out that the declaration of emergency allows mayors and county officials to use public assistance to provide shelter to those most in need.

“ We are not here today as Democrats or Republicans, we are here as Americans, American leaders, “clarified the progressive president, who ruled that when a crisis hits one of the states of the country like the one that has affected Texas, it is not about” a Republican or Democratic majority. “

“ It is our compatriots – he added – who are suffering, and our job is to help all those who need it. “

The president’s agenda included a visit to the Harris County Emergency Operations Center, encompassing the city of Houston, and a food bank, one of the largest in the country, serving 1.1 million residents in 18 counties located in Southeast Texas.

Power outages caused by winter storm, one of the largest in recent Texas history, left millions of residents without heat, with temperatures as low as -13 degrees Celsius outside, killing some people from hypothermia, part of the at least 59 who died. recorded by the phenomenon.

Center in Del Rio

– The Biden Administration plans to open another facility in From the river, Texas, to expand processing capacity for children and families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico borderconfirmed an official from the Department of Homeland Security.

– It is the latest move by the Administration to address the growing number of migrant families and unaccompanied children on the southern border of the United States.

– In January, more than 5,800 unaccompanied children and almost 7,500 families they were stopped by Customs and Border Protection at the border.

With information from EFE and Texas Tribune

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