Thread: 21,000 families released in El Paso since 12/21/18

Volunteers continuing to help migrants dropped off in El Paso

by Adriana Candelaria
Friday, March 1st 2019



Approximately 100 migrants were dropped off at the Camino De Vida Church this week.

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released 21,000 families into the El Paso community since December 21, 2018, announced the federal agency Friday afternoon.

Due to Annunciation House being at capacity earlier in the week, ICE had to turn to other non-governmental organizations to help migrants released from ICE custody, said a spokesperson with ICE.

A Lower Valley church is better organized for an influx of migrants being sent there. on Tuesday

A group of 50 migrants were dropped off at the Camino De Vida Church Friday after the church received other groups of migrants earlier in the week.

Volunteers say this church was empty before the migrants arrived and adjustments were made to accommodate the need.

Upon arrival, migrants are able to pick out a clean outfit and are given the chance to shower.

Volunteers are also providing haircuts for migrants before they are taken to the bus station or airport to meet their sponsors in other parts of the country.

Friday, the church received another group of 50 migrants, according to volunteers.

Volunteers at the church say they have contacted other area churches to assist in providing shelters for migrants.

José Antonio Arevalos Fuentes says he came from Honduras with his 15-year-old daughter trying to escape poverty and get his daughter an education in the U.S.

Fuentes says he and his daughter briefly encountered and joined a caravan, but eventually continued their own journey.
When asked if he knew what city or state he was in, Fuentes said he did not, that they were lost.

"We are trying to locate different churches within the community ourselves to put these people where they're going to be safe and where they can eat," said Israel Cabrera, associate pastor at Camino de Vida Christian church.

ICE released the following statement:

"After decades of inaction by Congress, the government remains severely constrained in its ability to detain and promptly remove families with no legal basis to remain in the U.S. As a result, family units continue to cross the border at high volumes and are likely to continue to do so, as they face no consequence for their actions. To mitigate the risk of holding family units past the timeframe allotted to the government, ICE began curtailing all reviews of post-release plans from families apprehended along the southwest border starting on Tuesday, October 23."

https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/volunt...off-in-el-paso

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