Las Cruces continues to house migrants from El Paso

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — Migrant shelters in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces have seen an increase in migrants.

CBS4 spoke with the Holy Cross Retreat Center who said there was an increase in migrants this week in the borderland and they had been receiving migrants from the Annunciation House in El Paso.

Father Thomas Smith, the director of the Holy Cross Retreat told CBS4 their main focus was to host retreats, but recently they housed migrants every day.

He told CBS4 that the increase in migrants did not cause a strain in their retreat only because they limited the number of migrants going in.

Smith said they housed 30 migrants at a time and stayed at the retreat for no more than a week.

They provided migrants with food, shelter, water and travel arrangements for their next destination.

He said some migrants will be sent to family members that can sponsor them in the U.S.

The majority of migrants coming in are from Venezuela, which Smith said are usually the ones that don't have a sponsor.

"I think it’s important we not see them as invaders in a way but as people who are very much in need and our scriptures call us to welcome the alien welcome the stranger among us," said Smith.

The Holy Cross Retreat is owned by a group of Franciscans and is purely volunteer-led.

Holy Cross Retreat Center is an oasis of prayer, personal growth and hospitality located near Las Cruces in southern New Mexico.

If you would like to donate your time the Holy Cross Retreat Center is accepting volunteers through the Annunciation House in El Paso and you can apply here.

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