Once bustling with nearly a thousand asylum seekers daily, migrant shelters along the Texas-Mexico border are now reportedly nearly empty.
With border restrictions tightening in recent months, many shelters report record-low numbers, prompting closures and funding cuts.
In McAllen, the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley’s respite center has seen a dramatic drop in arrivals. City officials report that fewer than 12 migrants have arrived daily this month, a stark contrast to the 3,188 people the center received in January. If the trend continues, the total number of arrivals in February will barely reach 350.
The decline follows a series of policy changes, including a January directive that effectively shut the border to asylum seekers. These restrictions, coupled with Mexico’s immigration enforcement efforts, have left many shelters struggling to justify their operations.
Shelter Closures on the Horizon
Annunciation House, a long-standing migrant shelter network in El Paso, is also facing a sharp decrease in occupancy. Director Ruben Garcia told the Texas Tribune that only about 40 people remain across its facilities. Of the 20 shelters in its network, only four are currently operating, and more closures are expected by the end of the month.
Garcia noted that the decline in arrivals started even before the 2024 election. “Even before the election, the numbers were already significantly down,” he said. Under the previous administration, Annunciation House accommodated between 250 and 300 people per day—a number that was already considered low.
The trend isn’t unique to El Paso. Casa del Sagrado Corazón, another shelter in the city, closed in September due to dwindling numbers. In San Antonio, the Migrant Resource Center recently stopped accepting new arrivals altogether.
Federal Funding Cuts Add Pressure
Beyond the declining need, financial strain is accelerating the closure of many shelters. The Catholic Charities respite center in McAllen, already struggling with low numbers, received another setback on January 30 when it was informed that it would no longer be reimbursed through the federal Shelter and Services Program.
That program, established during former President Donald Trump’s administration, provided emergency aid reimbursements to local governments and nonprofits assisting migrants. Without those funds, shelters are left to operate on tighter budgets.
Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of RGV Catholic Charities, acknowledged that staffing reductions had already begun before the funding cuts. “As it is, we were already cutting down staff because we don’t have people coming in anymore,” she said. “The numbers are very, very low—like 10 or five a day.”
A Future of Uncertainty
Despite financial challenges and reduced demand, Pimentel affirmed that the respite center will remain open for those in need.
“We will continue to operate as long as there’s a need,” Pimentel told the Texas Tribune. “If there are people who we can help, the church will always be present to help.”
For now, the fate of many migrant shelters along the border remains uncertain. As immigration policies continue to evolve, organizations that once provided critical support for thousands of asylum seekers are left wondering whether their services will be needed in the same capacity again.
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