Migrant Surge Overwhelming Resources Along U.S. Border, Say Charities

The surge of Central American migrant families and unaccompanied minors is overwhelming charitable organizations along the border who are tasked with providing shelter and aid. Recent changes in Border Patrol policies led to migrants being released directly to shelters instead of being turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Directors of shelters are now scrambling for volunteers and resources to meet the demand for temporary housing and assistance to migrant families released by Border Patrol agents. One such organization, Annunciation House in El Paso, spent more than $1 million in the last five months to pay for hotel rooms after their two dozen shelters filled to capacity, director Ruben Garcia told Texas Monthly.

On March 27, the new catch and release policy went into effect. At that time, federal officials released about 1,100 migrants directly into El Paso. Texas Monthy reported that this came in addition to the 3,725 released by ICE at about the same time.

More