ICE Relies on El Paso Migrant Shelter to Accomodate Flood of Central American Immigrants
By Joseph J. Kolb, December 14, 2016
Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, has been a respite for immigrants for nearly 40 years, but is currently struggling to service the flood of immigrants from Central America referred to it directly by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, told us that ICE has run out of detention center space for family units and has referred thousands to his agency after initial processing, some 1,000 per week since November.
"All of these people are being released pending their first court appearance because there isn't enough space in the existing detention facilities," Garcia said. "Everybody is in some form of removal proceedings."
Garcia went on to stress that he categorically does not believe that poor people should be detained unless they are a danger to the community.
"We are committed to receive everyone ICE releases to help them in their journey to be united with family members," said Garcia.
http://cis.org/kolb/ice-relies-el-paso-migrant-shelter-accomodate-flood-central-american-immigrants
