Shelters at capacity after thousands of migrants cross to El Paso

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Both the Rescue Mission of El Paso and the Opportunity Center are at capacity.

The deputy director for the Opportunity Center told CBS4 On Your Side they were told over 1,200 migrants would be released to different shelters in the area.

Also adding to the dire situation, the freezing temperatures in El Paso were expected to hit on Monday night.

"We had to turn some away we simply cannot take anymore," said Blake Barrow the CEO of Rescue Mission of El Paso.

"It’s not like we can work ourselves down to zero. It’s almost like we’re just focused on trying to maintain and we’re somewhat failing at that because we have fewer numbers going out versus numbers coming in," said John Martin the deputy director of the Opportunity Center.

Both the Opportunity Center and the Rescue Mission of El Paso said the biggest challenge they faced was that they did not have enough space.

There were people sleeping on floors and some migrants at the rescue mission stayed in the library room.

The Opportunity Center said it housed over 160 migrants when its capacity was 100.

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It said its Welcome Center had over 100 migrants when their capacity was 85.

The Rescue Mission of El Paso said it was sheltering over 260 people when its capacity was 190.

Most of them were migrants.

"We’ve never seen anything like this before," said Barrow

John Martin, the deputy director of the Opportunity Center, said they worked with shelters in El Paso to establish a connection.

That way they would know where to send migrants when shelters were at capacity.

"None of our local homeless will be turned away we will find a way to serve them at this point," said Martin.

One migrant CBS4 spoke with said he decided to leave his home and go to the U.S. to live in a place with a more stable economy and government.

He said he was told crossing through Juarez was the less dangerous option.

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“They told me that they were more flexible over here and that is something I can confirm,” said migrant Alex Miranda.

Blake Barrow, the CEO of the Rescue Mission of El Paso.

He said the county promised to receive money from FEMA to help them with the shelter, but he still was unsure when he could receive that money.

"Are we spinning in the ocean? Yes. But turn around and look at all these kids on the porch we’ve got to do whatever we can do to take care of them," said Barrow.

Both shelters are always accepting volunteers and donations such as winter clothes and toiletries.

The Opportunity Center said you can go drop off donations at their location:1208 Myrtle Ave.

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