As the upcoming election day approaches, a non-profit migrant shelter in San Antonio, Texas, has seen a significant increase in the number of housed migrants since May 2024. This rise in numbers coincides with the escalating border crossings in Texas border cities. The San Antonio Migrant Resource Center, a partnership between the City of San Antonio and various non-profit organizations, such as Catholic Charities, has accommodated nearly 12,500 migrants since the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2024. Established in 2022, the center has played a crucial role in supporting approximately half a million migrants in their journeys, providing resources and transportation options to facilitate their movement out of San Antonio.
Breitbart Texas visited the facility recently and witnessed several buses arriving from the border region, delivering migrants to the heavily secured center. To maintain order and security, the city has deployed police officers to prevent unauthorized access and to ensure the safety of both the migrants and the surrounding community. Observing the bustling environment outside, migrants—comprising family units and single adults—navigated the busy streets in clothing supplied by Customs and Border Protection contractors. Many remained hopeful as they planned their next steps, waiting to secure travel arrangements to continue their journeys to cities across the United States.
Among those migrants were a Venezuelan family—Maria and Trinidad—who shared their experiences with Breitbart Texas after being released by the Border Patrol in Eagle Pass. They expressed gratitude for their treatment but voiced their frustrations about the lengthy wait to secure funds for traveling to New York, where they hoped to start anew. Trinidad lamented that flights for families were costlier than for individuals and that the lack of financial resources slowed their process. With their children in tow, the couple emphasized their urgency to find employment in New York and echoed the common sentiment of many migrants relying on faith and perseverance during uncertain times.
Notably, Venezuelans constitute the largest group of nationalities served at the San Antonio Migrant Resource Center, with over 60,000 individuals sheltered since its opening. Behind them are Nicaraguans, with more than 26,000 sheltered, and the facility has also assisted migrants from various other countries, including Cuba, Honduras, Haiti, and Colombia. In total, approximately 78,393 migrants from these six nationalities alone have found refuge there. The center has become a critical stop for individuals from around the world, some categorized as Special Interest Aliens by the FBI and DHS, indicating the diverse origins and complexities facing many of these individuals.
While the shelter was initially projected to exhaust its federal funding by March 2024, recent developments provided a financial cushion. President Joe Biden’s signing of a $1.2 trillion funding package, which includes $650 million for FEMA’s Shelter and Program, granted the center a reprieve. This funding is critical for reimbursement of non-governmental migrant shelters, including the San Antonio center, covering various operational costs to ensure continued service. Additionally, the City of San Antonio and local organizations received nearly $17 million from FEMA specifically allocated to support the Migrant Resource Center, helping sustain its vital services during a time of increased demand.
Reports indicate that migrant crossings are surging, particularly in Eagle Pass—over 150 miles from San Antonio—leading to a greater influx of migrants being processed and then transported to the resource center in San Antonio. The rise includes individuals from diverse routes, including unaccompanied minors and Special Interest Aliens. This increase highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and community organizations, as they work to manage the logistics of sheltering hundreds of migrants while providing necessary resources and support for their subsequent journeys. The commitment exhibited by local agencies and organizations underscores the collaborative response to a continuously evolving migration landscape in Texas.