Thread: TX. Homeless Shelter Prepares for Wave of Illegal aliens

Homeless Shelter Prepares for Wave of Immigrants

Posted: Feb 28, 2013 6:16 PM
Updated: Feb 28, 2013 10:22 PM

BROWNSVILLE - A homeless shelter in Brownsville is preparing for a wave of immigrants searching for refuge.

Victor Maldonado, director at Ozanam Center, said his shelter is home to 200 people. He expects that number to spike after Homeland Security Administration officials release hundreds of immigrants from detention centers.

"If that happens, it starts happening in this city, we are going to start getting more people in this area," Maldonado said.

Federal officials said the releases are necessary as they prepare for budget cuts.

Officials at the Port Isabel detention center would not answer questions about the releases or if they will happen in the Rio Grande Valley.

One Immigration and Customs Enforcement employee did say that any immigrant freed would be released in Brownsville.

"With nowhere to go and no shelter, people are left seeking shelter," Maldonado said.

"We've received 36 individuals in the last two days. They're not saying where they're coming from, but we suspect they are individuals coming from the detention centers," Maldonado said.

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