EPTIMES: More migrants dropped off at bus station Monday, hundreds more expected Christmas Day

Hundreds of migrants families were dropped off at the Greyhound bus station in Downtown El Paso Monday and hundreds more are expected to be released on Christmas Day, the El Paso Times reports.

Late Sunday night, a little more than 200 migrants were dropped off by ICE agents at the Greyhound bus station. With growing numbers of migrants being released each day, the Annunciation House has reached capacity. With the shelter at capacity, many migrants are staying in hotels, schools and hospitality centers, opened as emergency shelters. Annunciation House is paying for the shelter.

The Times reports that on Monday morning, more vehicles carrying migrants pulled into the bus station to drop off families trying to reach relatives elsewhere in the United States.

Congresswoman-elect Veronica Escobar told the El Paso times about 200 more migrants were set to be released Monday, with possibly 200 more coming Christmas Day, Tuesday.

A spokeswoman with Immigration and Customs Enforcement sent ABC-7 the following statement:

“After decades of inaction by Congress, the government remains severely constrained in its ability to detain and promptly remove families with no legal basis to remain in the U.S. To mitigate the risk of holding family units past the timeframe allotted to the government, ICE has curtailed reviews of post-release plans from families apprehended along the southwest border. ICE is redoubling its efforts to work with local and state officials and NGO partners in the area so they are prepared to provide assistance with transportation or other services.”