Migrant shelter organizations overwhelmed at growing demand of migrants needing help

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso non-profit organizations are overwhelmed with the growing demand of migrants needing help as they travel through the southern border and into El Paso.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement dropped off hundreds of migrants at a bus station in downtown El Paso Sunday morning, the largest release in four years.

The Peace and Justice Ministry for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso are helping migrants who are risking their lives to cross the border. Church officials said some of them haven't eaten for several days and many are coming with only the clothes they put on.

Volunteers are worried the worst is yet to come.

RELATED: Over 100 migrants reportedly released in downtown El Paso

The ministry is already receiving a bus carrying about 60 migrants a week to help them get in contact with their sponsors.

"The 60 is our capacity. We have pushed it up to about 89. But it’s the ability to concentrate our efforts on a daily basis," said Robert Salinas the site coordinator of the Peace and Justice Ministry.

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso reports that Ruben Garcia, the director of the El Paso Annunciation House told them that he doesn't have the shelter capacity nor the volunteers needed to staff the shelters. Garcia told the diocese that he suspects migrants will be released to the street.

While El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz is calling on the community to help, the Peace and Justice Ministry says they were not made aware that over 100 migrants would be left at a bus station on Sunday.

"There was no communication with us about that," said Salinas. "If we get word that there’s going to be more coming in we’re able to react fairly quickly. It’s tough, but it's only a matter of picking up the phone."

Salinas said he expects the situation to worsen.

"There are not enough beds for them which means the crisis is going to get worse," said Salinas.

Salinas said they are in dire need of volunteers which is hindering their ability to help.

Title 42 is expected to end on May 23.

Title 42 is the public health order that allows the U.S. to turn away asylum seekers at the southern border.

The decision by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to end the controversial measure has received fierce pushback from Republicans and some Democrats who warn of a massive surge of migrants at the border.

The city of El Paso release a response Sunday on how the city and Office of Emergency management are prepared for the migrant surge saying:

The City of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) have and are continuing to coordinate with local nonprofit organizations, community groups and federal immigration enforcement agencies to address the ongoing concerns related to the release of migrants in El Paso. The proactive preparation was activated several months ago in response to possible immigration policy changes at the federal level, as well as the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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