Migrant surge in El Paso impacts Las Cruces shelters

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - According to a community outreach coordinator in Las Cruces, most of the shelters are already operating at capacity. The migrant surge in El Paso has filled their shelters, and coordinators are trying to figure out how to do more.

Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima says most of the migrants in this latest surge are from Venezuela. A country that the United States does not share diplomatic relations. Therefore, these latest migrants do not have sponsors.

Without sponsors, they have to remain in El Paso, with only a limited number of them getting sent to Las Cruces due to space limitations.

For many, the only option is the streets. Miyagishima says this highlights the need for immigration reform, and many of the shelter coordinators agree.

City leaders and shelter coordinators fear migrants will be taken advantage of, and of major concern are the children who end up sleeping on the streets.

For now, the shelters are doing their best to accommodate those who come to shelters.

The mayor says officials from different cities along the border need to figure out who can take in these migrants.