Migrant shelters in Texas and Arizona are closing their doors amid shifts in United States immigration policies and a decline in illegal border crossings during President Donald Trump's ongoing term.
Breitbart reported that these nonprofit shelters, once supported by federal funds, are grappling with growing financial challenges as they see fewer migrants to serve.
Under President Trump's administration, actions to tighten border security and enact mass deportations have resulted in fewer illegal entries across the southwest border. This marked decline has directly impacted the operational sustainability of migrant shelters that were financially buoyed during the previous administration.
Previously, these non-profit organizations benefited from federal funding through programs initiated under President Joe Biden. These programs included financial support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Food and Shelter Program and the Shelter and Services Program, which also involved Customs and Border Protection.
This means that American taxpayer dollars were directly being funnelled to these NGO's to financially support the invasion of the nation by millions of illegal immigrants.
In San Antonio, Texas, the Migrant Resource Center (MRC), which has been in operation since 2022, announced it would be closing. The center, managed jointly by the City of San Antonio and Catholic Charities, found itself struggling due to reduced migrant intake.
Further implications of policy change were felt in Arizona where, shortly after President Trump’s inauguration, two shelters ceased operations. This abrupt cessation came as the Border Patrol halted the practice of releasing migrants, which these facilities relied on to function.
One of the closed facilities in Tucson, Arizona, was located on Drexel Road, boasting a capacity to house 650 migrants, while Casa Alitas, another notable facility, assisted over 100 migrants.
Both served critical roles during the Biden-Harris administration, acting as major transportation hubs that facilitated the movement of migrants from border regions to the interior of the United States.
Despite the closures, Congress has allocated $650 million for Fiscal Year 2024 to the Shelter and Services Program, in an attempt to support non-government shelters that are struggling financially.
This funding comes at a critical time as statistics indicate a significant drop in illegal border crossings. A particular Sunday saw less than 500 migrants apprehended, with the Del Rio Sector reporting under 25 apprehensions on the same day.
This steep decline in numbers represents a substantial change from previous years, where such shelters would receive higher numbers of migrants regularly, thereby justifying the need for sustained funding and resources from federal programs.
The closures of these shelters not only affect the migrants they were established to serve but also have broader implications for local communities that had adapted to their presence. Community services, employment, and local economies were indirectly linked to the operation of these shelters.
As federal support continues to shift, the sustainability of remaining shelters remains uncertain, with many looking to alternative sources of funding or modifying their operational models to continue providing services to migrants in need.
Overall, the landscape of immigration and border control continues to evolve under the Trump administration, with consequences for those at the front lines of the migrant crisis in America.
As policies tighten and funding becomes scarcer, the future of migrant support services hangs in a delicate balance, underscoring the need for comprehensive immigration reform and humanitarian assistance strategies.