BROWNSVILLE — Starting Saturday, city of Brownsville employees will begin testing migrants released from federal custody for COVID-19 at the bus depot in the downtown area.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management sent Brownsville 10,000 COVID-19 test kits, according to Brownsville’s public information officer, Felipe Romero. Families released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection are not typically tested for the virus unless they are symptomatic.
As of Wednesday, CBP began releasing families in Brownsville and McAllen at the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Respite Center. Staff in Brownsville moved the released families from the indoor space to an outdoor area over the weekend.
McAllen’s city manager said they, too, received thousands of testing kits from TDEM. They were shared with the respite center where as many as 80 people were released Wednesday.
CBP sent an updated statement on Thursday that emphasized the space constraints the agency is facing by COVID-19 protocols, changes in Mexican law, and limited U.S. holding capacities.
“CBP has seen a steady increase in border encounters since April 2020, which, aggravated by COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing guidelines, has caused some facilities to reach maximum safe holding capacity,” the statement read. “Per longstanding practice, when long-term holding solutions aren’t possible, some migrants will be processed for removal, provided a Notice to Appear, and released into the U.S. to await a future immigration hearing.
“As the Administration reviews the current immigration process, balancing it against the ongoing pandemic, we will continue to use all current authorities to avoid keeping individuals in a congregate setting for any length of time.”
