Axios
Church shelters call on the United States to expel migrants when they have the capacity
Despite the separation of church and state, the federal government relies on religious shelters to help it cope with migration from the US-Mexico border. Why it matters: The network supports the US in times of crisis, but now some shelter leaders are complaining about evicting families to Mexico when they have the capacity – and feel a greater call – to accommodate them. Stay on top with the latest market trends and economic prospects with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free “They are human beings. They are here in my community and they need help,” said Sister Norma Pimentel, who runs Catholic Charities in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Axios interviewed Sister Norma after a visit to the southwest that included stops on both sides of the border. Overview: Catholic and Protestant churches in the United States and Mexico have built a network in recent years to provide temporary shelter for migrants. Volunteers help them arrange travel plans, provide food, and donate clothes and toiletries. Immigrants from a shelter in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, told Axios that the church shelters offered them temporary housing along the way and suggested the names of the places if they should do so. Only two of the more than a dozen shelters in Ciudad Juárez are run by the government – most are run by religious groups. American churches have organized efforts to accommodate migrant children 250 miles north, near Santa Fe, New Mexico, with volunteers who speak Spanish and Portuguese. Organizers say that despite this year’s record number of migrants, they are not as outnumbered as they are in 2019. Ruben Garcia, director of the House of Good News in El Paso, Texas, expressed frustration in Mexico. He said his shelters are at low capacity by their standards and that there are newly opened hotels under contract with Immigration and Customs. for families. What happens: Sister Norma told Axios that her shelters receive between 400 and 800 migrants from the Border Patrol every day, mostly parents and children. Despite this influx, “we have not seen the numbers as high as 2019,” she said, adding that it may be because the presence of the Border Patrol sends some migrants to other sections of the border. A plane or two carrying about 135 migrants who have crossed South Texas is in I sent to other border areas, such as El Paso and Laredo, Texas and San Diego, California, every day, Garcia explained. The shelters of the Annunciation House receive between 30 and 35 of the migrants sent to El Paso, while the rest are expelled to Ciudad Juárez. Many expelled migrants do not understand where they are being sent. Garcia does not know how the report was decided or who made the appeal. The lack of transparency about who makes decisions and why is “one of the most frustrating parts,” he said. Between the lines: Garcia spoke about volunteers flying from all over the US to help and read Axios texts from other organizations ready to assist “I am writing to let you know that we are preparing to help you when you need to send us buses on the way “, read Garcia from a lawyer who represented five religious groups that also attended in 2019. But there is also a return. Sister Norma said that for weeks ago they had between 10 and 12 men protesting their work, accusing them of participating in human trafficking. How you can help: Casa Buna Vestire, Catholic Charities RGV and HOPE Border Institute. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe for free to Axios Markets.