El Paso shelters overflowing with legal migrants urge city for help

Sacred Heart Church operating at overcapacity. August 11, 2023.
Credit: KFOX14/CBS4

KFOX14
by Jonathan Mejia
Fri, August 11th 2023, 10:10 PM CDT

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso is once again seeing migrants out on the streets, only this time around they have entered the country legally and have the appropriate documentation.

However, El Paso shelters are over capacity and are asking the city for help with the situation.

The three main shelters that house migrants in El Paso-- The Rescue Mission, Opportunity Center and Sacred Heart Church-- are all over capacity.

The people in charge of these shelters say a third wave of migrants is brewing and they're asking the city for help.

"We’re seeing a significant increase in the number of individuals that are being served and this is illustrated in what happened last night where we had a busload of individuals," said Deputy Director for the Opportunity Center John Martin.

The difference from the last wave in April and May is that about 95 percent of migrants entered the country legally through the CBP One app, according to shelter directors.

They say the others turned themselves into Border Patrol and have started to be released this week with a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

"Our count was approximately 120 before they came, and so we’re operating significantly over capacity at this point," said Martin.

Sacred Heart Church and Rescue Mission are also operating over capacity.

Rescue Mission has a capacity of 200 and as of today, it had 220.

Sacred Heart Church has a capacity of 120 and as of today, it had 155.

"We’re seeing a definitive beginning of a third wave is what I’m referring to it as," said Martin.

While the NGOs say the county has been proactive and involved, they say the city could do a better job in helping provide shelter options for migrants.

"The city for the most part has relied on the NGOs and non-profits to be able to carry that burden, but I think the time is now to look at what’s going to happen in the near future as well," said Martin.

KFOX14 reached out to the city’s Office of Emergency Management today for an interview, but they said no one was available on short notice.

However, the city did say they could open the shelter at Bassett middle school at a moment's notice, back in July.

The migrant situation is also on the agenda for Monday's city council meeting.

KFOX14 will let you know if the city takes any action.