(NewsNation) — Migrant shelters along the Texas-Mexico border are nearly empty after President Donald Trump’s actions effectively shut the border to asylum seekers.
Under former President Joe Biden’s administration, migrant shelters across Texas played a key role in assisting migrants with food, shelter and other necessities until migrants reached their final destination. Migrants would arrive at shelters after being processed by Border Patrol officials and be given court dates.
Some shelters in Texas received up to 1,000 migrants per day, and during peak periods, many shelters exceeded capacity.
Migrant crossings since the election
Illegal crossings have plummeted across the southern border to just an average of 600 per day since Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration and messaging on mass deportations. Even before the 2024 election, illegal crossings were trending downward, resulting in shelters receiving fewer migrants.
Ruben Garcia, the director of an El Paso-based migrant shelter network, told the Texas Tribune that there are approximately 40 people currently staying in the shelters.
What will happen with migrant shelters at the Texas border?
Due to the reduced number of migrants, Garcia said that only four of the more than 20 network shelters are open at this time, and he is likely to shutter more by the end of the month. Ultimately, he said, only one or two shelters will remain open.
With Mexico deploying 10,000 troops on the border, officials say to expect more shelters to shut down. There could also be layoffs as illegal crossings continue to go down
Republicans in Congress continue to push for no funds allocated for the reimbursement of immigrant care to nonprofits, communities or municipalities as the Fiscal Year 2025 budget has yet to be finalized.