New details on immigrants and shelters in the Borderland

ABC 7 is trying to learn more about the efforts to help the Central American immigrants being brought to the Borderland. The people providing shelter and services to them locally say they are mostly families, not unaccompanied children. Wednesday, ABC 7 also learned more and more places are opening their doors to accommodate the influx.

The Columban House near Downtown El Paso usually houses groups coming to the Sun City to learn more about border issues, but has switched to offering shelter and aid to the immigrants themselves.

The house, which usually takes groups of 10 to 12, took in 40 immigrants brought from elsewhere on the border on July 4 and is ready for more.

A volunteer at the house wasn’t willing to speak to us on camera, but neighbors say they don’t mind having a shelter next door, and have even donated clothes and other necessities to help.

“I think it’d be okay, unless it would be a problem,” said Antonio Garcia. “But I don’t think so, because where else would they be?”

ABC 7 has been trying to find out more about what El Paso’s overall response to the immigration crisis is from both the Catholic Diocese of El Paso and Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, who have been working to direct the care of immigrants being brought into our community.

We should finally find out more Thursday as representatives of several local organizations are holding a news conference on Trowbridge Drive to give an update on the continued arrival of immigrants from South Texas to El
Paso.