The Trump administration has continued the practice of releasing individuals accused of illegally being in the United States to various nongovernmental shelters along the border with Mexico. This comes despite the administration cautioning these organizations that offering temporary accommodations and other forms of aid might breach laws used to prosecute smugglers.
The tension among shelter operators stemmed from a letter issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which expressed “significant concerns” over potentially unlawful activities. This letter demanded comprehensive information as part of a broad investigation and insinuated that shelters might be involved in felony offenses tied to illegal border crossing or transportation within the U.S.
Rebecca Solloa, who heads Catholic Charities Diocese of Laredo, described receiving the letter as a frightful experience. Despite the issuance of this letter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has persisted in requesting shelters in Texas and Arizona to accommodate individuals. This has placed shelters in a perplexing position, where they provide aid that FEMA suggests might be illegal. Both FEMA and ICE function under the Department of Homeland Security.
After the letter from FEMA, Catholic Charities was asked by ICE to receive approximately eight to ten people daily, which continued until financial constraints forced the closure of their Texas border city shelter on April 25. Executive Director Michael Smith of The Holding Institute Community in Laredo shared that his organization has been accommodating roughly 20 families each week from ICE’s family detention centers in Texas. These families hail from diverse countries, including Russia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Papua New Guinea, and China.
Similarly, the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, has been receiving five to ten migrants daily from ICE, including individuals from Honduras and Venezuela, as highlighted by its executive director, Ruben Garcia. In Phoenix, despite not receiving the letter, the International Rescue Committee continues to assist people from ICE, according to an anonymous source aware of the situation. These releases involve those previously held at the overcrowded ICE Krome Detention Center in Miami.
The challenges presented by conflicting directives became apparent as ICE’s requests seemed contradictory to Catholic Charities, yet the organization agreed to assist. Many of the released individuals had spent weeks in detention after being arrested within the U.S. interior and later ordered released by immigration judges as their deportation cases proceeded. Others had crossed illegally from San Diego. These individuals are from varied nations such as India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, and regions in Central and South America.
Smith voiced concerns about FEMA’s alarming letter, yet noted that continuing to support people released by ICE, while likely inadvisable, felt morally imperative. According to DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, the handling of releases under the Biden administration differed greatly, as ICE would often collaborate with shelters or release migrants in public locations during high volumes.
ICE faces numerous challenges, such as diplomatic, financial, and logistical hurdles that complicate the swift deportation of individuals to their home countries. Alternatives, like deporting individuals to third-party countries, have surfaced, including El Salvador and South Sudan. In certain cases, ICE has no option but to release individuals within the U.S. Families, especially, present additional obstacles because ICE is generally restricted from holding minors for more than 20 days due to a long-standing agreement now challenged by the Trump administration.
The practice of releasing people with immigration court notices has drastically declined under the Trump administration, as seen by the negligible figures compared to the previous year under President Biden. It is important to note that these figures exclude ICE data.
FEMAsuspension of funding has impacted numerous shelters, with FEMA having awarded substantial amounts to aid state and local governments and organizations grappling with the surge of migrants since 2024. In particular, FEMA has mandated shelters to provide a detailed account of the services offered, with executive officers attesting to not being aware of law violations.
The close yet often uneasy relationship between border shelters and federal authorities is evident, as these shelters often work with federal partners despite criticisms from senior officials. Solloa reflected that despite their willingness to assist at federal requests, financial constraints have forced them to close due to a lack of support from FEMA.
Catholic Charities, since its inception in 2021, has provided shelter to an estimated 120,000 people in Laredo, accommodating hundreds during peak times without receiving the anticipated financial aid from FEMA. As a result, they have incurred significant losses. Similarly, The Holding Institute has dramatically reduced its workforce due to the lack of funding, shifting to more cost-effective meal options and coping with language barriers.
A spokesperson from the International Rescue Committee affirmed their commitment to continuing essential services for released people in Phoenix, emphasizing their dedication to providing vital support like food, hygiene supplies, and information as the needs evolve.
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