DHS continues releasing people to shelters after threat of prosecution for migrant smuggling

AP News ^ | Updated 12:13 PM CDT, May 23, 2025 | VALERIE GONZALEZ and ELLIOT SPAGAT

[E. Pluribus Unum]

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Trump administration has continued releasing people charged with being in the country illegally to nongovernmental shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border after telling those organizations that providing migrants with temporary housing and other aid may violate a law used to prosecute smugglers.

Border shelters, which have long provided lodging, meals and transportation to the nearest bus station or airport, were rattled by a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that raised “significant concerns” about potentially illegal activity and demanded detailed information in a wide-ranging investigation. FEMA suggested shelters may have committed felony offenses against bringing people across the border illegally or transporting them within the United States.

“It was pretty scary. I’m not going to lie,” said Rebecca Solloa, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Laredo.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continued to ask shelters in Texas and Arizona to house people even after the March 11 letter, putting them in the awkward position of doing something that FEMA appeared to say might be illegal. Both agencies are part of the Department of Homeland Security.

After receiving the letter, Catholic Charities received eight to 10 people a day from ICE until financial losses forced it to close its shelter in the Texas border city on April 25, Solloa said.

The Holding Institute Community, also in Laredo, has been taking about 20 families a week from ICE’s family detention centers in Dilley and Karnes City, Texas, Executive Director Michael Smith said. They come from Russia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and China.

Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, has been receiving five to 10 people day from ICE, including from Honduras and Venezuela, said Ruben Garcia, its executive director.

International Rescue Committee didn’t get a letter but continues receiving people from ICE...

[Openurmind]

Blame the judges, they are to blame because they will not him deport them.

[ConservativeMind]

Trebuchet them back over the border.

[buckalfa]

So the border is not closed and catch and release continues? Or is it simply a matter of space to hold those captured?

[Army Air Corps]

Attu and Kiska would make fine detention centers.

[antidemoncrat]

As long as Congre$$ and the Supreme Clowns of the US do nothing about low level judges now being the Ruling Branch of the US Government law and order will continue to deteriorate.

[Brian Griffin]

Welcome to Fort Bliss.

Invader Housing Field 1 still has tent sites available.

Please be quick about outhouse use.

[skinny old man]

Seems like a misleading headline...

[Gaffer]

There’s a ghost airline that runs out of Las Vegas that makes multiple daily runs to many places in Nevada. Planes and facilities are on the other side of the runway up near the strip.

I’d suggest the Administration create an additional gate facility for ‘another ghost’ that runs foreigners here illegally through it BEFORE some leftist judge can get wind of it.

I don’t care about “their rights.” Our own rights are abridged frequently (e.g., felons owning guns, etc.). AFAIC, a few of these leftist activist judges would need a personal tour of the facility when it’s established. Give them a comprehensive tour - on that includes a ‘ride’ that’s one-way to South America.