Catholic Diocese opens up two new shelters for Cuban migrants

As El Paso continues to see a rising number of Cuban migrants crossing the border, the Catholic Diocese is opening up two new shelters to accommodate them.

Migrants are flying in by the hundreds to the Juarez airport and then walking over to El Paso. The Catholic Diocese expects at least 4,000 total over the next couple of weeks.

Many of them have been staying at the Houchen Community Center in South El Paso and the Annunciation House, but two new shelters are opening up: Roger Bacon Seminary on 2400 Marr St. and St. Frances Xavier/San Javier Church on 519 S. Latta Street.

The diocese says Roger Bacon will shelter men while San Juan will shelter families. Many of the migrants are arriving to Juarez overnight, which is why Sun Metro will also run a shuttle from the bridge to the shelters between 7 P.M to 7 A.M.

“One of the things we’re also hearing about, is that in those same areas of the bridges, there are starting to be solicitations from what we believe may or may not be private transportation owners are soliciting the refugees, I have a van, I can take you where you want to be, it’s only going to cost you a couple of hundred dollars. We have no way of knowing if they are licensed, we have no way of knowing if they’re insured,” Spokeswoman Liz O’Hara said.

The diocese is also still looking for volunteers and asking for donations of food, for more information you can call the diocese at (915) 872-8400.