"Securing San Antonio: Dr. Tim Westley’s Leadership to Tackle the Threats from Tren de Aragua and Push to Close the Migrant Resource Center"

By Tim Westley, PhD.                                                                               

October 12, 2024

San Antonio is facing a crisis that city leaders are dangerously ignoring. The notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), is spreading across our city—smuggling drugs, trafficking humans, and threatening our families' safety. As this danger grows, Mayor Ron Nirenberg is absent, focused on his national political ambitions while San Antonio’s well-being hangs in the balance.

This crisis stems from the Migrant Resource Center (MRC), which opened in 2022 to offer temporary aid to asylum seekers. But what was meant to be a humanitarian effort has become a hub for criminal organizations like TdA. With over 60,000 Venezuelan migrants processed at the MRC—many tied to criminal networks—San Antonio is now a breeding ground for serious crimes, including human trafficking and narcotics distribution.

While Governor Greg Abbott has declared Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization and taken action, San Antonio’s leadership has remained silent. Nirenberg and his colleagues refuse to confront the reality that the MRC is a hotbed for illegal operations. Instead, they continue to support a facility that endangers our city. This isn’t just a failure in judgment—it’s a failure in leadership.

In May 2024, the City Council voted to keep the MRC open, and several current mayoral candidates were part of that decision. These candidates may talk about public safety, but their actions betray their words. They are not willing to make the tough choices that San Antonio needs to confront this growing threat.

San Antonio cannot afford leaders who turn a blind eye to danger. We need a mayor who will fight for the safety and security of our families—not one distracted by political ambitions or special interests. The silence from City Hall is deafening, and it’s time for a leader who will take bold action to protect our community.

I, Dr. Tim Westley, am that leader. I’m running for mayor to restore safety and security to San Antonio. I am not afraid to shut down the Migrant Resource Center, end its role in harboring criminal activity, and take the necessary steps to keep our city safe. I am committed to putting the people of San Antonio first, not political donors or future career moves.

Now is the time for bold leadership. Now is the time for a mayor “From the People—For the People.” I am Dr. Tim Westley, the only candidate with the vision, courage, and dedication to protect our city and lead it into a safer, brighter future.

San Antonio, you deserve better. You deserve a mayor who will stand up and fight for you, for your families, and for your future. Together, we can make San Antonio safe again. Together, we can make San Antonio thrive.

In 2025, let’s choose leadership. Let’s choose action. Let’s choose Dr. Tim Westley for mayor.