After an arduous journey from Venezuela to the United States, Roselins Sequera and her family of seven found refuge at a migrant shelter along the Texas border. For several weeks, this shelter offered them a roof over their heads, daily meals, and guidance on how to secure employment. Despite having a vision to move to Iowa where they could join friends, the family faced a bewildering challenge – they had no idea how to do that. This is where the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley stepped in, welcoming the Sequeras in October.
A network of shelters, managed by various aid groups, exist along the U.S.-Mexico borderlines, offering vital support to cities swamped by the influx of migrants. These shelters, integral to the work of the Border Patrol, offer assistance to migrants who, in most cases, are disoriented and unsure of where to go upon their release, with notices to appear in immigration court. Unfortunately, these shelters have recently come under increasing criticism from Republican quarters, many of whom regard them as catalysts for unlawful immigration.
A significant number of these shelters are maintained by nonprofits that heavily rely on federal funding, an example of which includes a donation of $650 million received as part of a program last year. However, the landscape seems set for change as the incoming Trump administration outlines an ambitious immigration strategy. This strategy includes a bold promise made during the campaign period – mass deportations.
Key elements of the innovative immigration strategy involve utilizing the National Guard to apprehend migrants and installing impediments on the waters dividing the U.S. and Mexico. Tom Homan, whom President-elect Donald Trump appointed as the incoming border chief, pledged to critically review the role nongovernmental organizations play, questioning whether they inadvertently contributed to exacerbating the humanitarian crisis at the borders.
Trump administration’s policies have sent ripples of concern among immigration proponents and certain officials residing in border communities. These officials argue that without the existence of shelters or funds dedicated to humanitarian costs, the border communities risk plunging into an uncontrollable crisis. Conversely, the aid groups deny these claims that they are abetting illegal immigration, asserting that they are merely reacting to critical situations forced upon border towns and delivering much-needed humanitarian aid.
In the last twelve months, Texas has launched investigations into six charitable organizations that provide sanctuary, food, and guidance on transportation to migrants. These probes were instigated following allegations made by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in 2022. Abbott stated, albeit without substantiating evidence, that charities operating along the border were encouraging illegal crossings and transporting migrants.
The Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which manages a migrant shelter capable of housing 1,200 individuals in McAllen, received a notification from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton about an impending investigation. The purpose of the investigation was to ascertain if any ‘practices for facilitating alien crossings over the Texas-Mexico border’ were in place at the shelter overseen.
Inside McAllen’s central area, a spacious lobby, which also serves as a welcome center, greets visitors. There, migrant families receive travel-related instructions while their young ones engage with volunteering staff. Throughout the year, almost 50,000 migrants have utilized the shelter’s services for transitional settlements. The Sequeras, for instance, spent two weeks at the shelter, settling into a structured routine and contributing to the center’s operations through various chores.
Migrant residents wake up at dawn, pack up their sleeping mats, and are served breakfast by 7 a.m. They participate in activities such as cleaning or doing laundry, all of which keep the shelter running smoothly. Additionally, volunteer lawyers lend their expertise to assist migrants in applying for work permits.
Without the aid of these volunteer lawyers, according to Roselins Sequera, the process could have been more drawn-out and expensive, possibly costing them thousands of dollars before they could finally commence their journey north. Opposition to the investigation of the Catholic Charities, however, has come from an unexpected source – McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos.
A rift has opened up between Mayor Villalobos and the ongoing investigation of Catholic Charities. In 2021, the migrant influx led to a surge that challenged the shelter’s capacity, forcing its temporary closure. However, by 2024, the number of migrants reduced substantially, and the city could accommodate about 140 individuals daily. ‘Without their significant contribution, we in McAllen would have been completely lost,’ Villalobos asserts.
Former Mayor Jim Darling has fond memories of the work done by the Catholic Charities, recalling a time in 2014 when the organization stepped in to aid 25 stranded migrants at a closing bus station after a frantic call from the city manager.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when the migrants were being released without testing, the Hidalgo County authorities depended on the Catholic Charities for assistance. They conducted the necessary testing and ensured quarantine measures for affected individuals.
The continuous operation of these shelters has been ensured partly due to the assistance from U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Texas Democrat. Since 2019, he has guided federal funding to the shelters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, overcoming Republican opposition in the previous year.
Regardless of political perspectives, many can agree that these shelters have been crucial in managing the humanitarian requirements of incoming migrants along the border. As conditions continue to evolve, all eyes are focused on the unfolding immigration policies of the incoming administration for these crucial support networks.