Vulnerable migrants arriving at the border seeking entry will soon have a new respite center in Matamoros with the help of nongovernmental organizations from the Rio Grande Valley.
As U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues processing cases of vulnerable migrants at ports of entry following a temporary pause, organizations are pulling their resources in Matamoros.
Most asylum seekers are not allowed to enter the U.S. due to a public health policy known as Title 42. Under the policy, migrants are not allowed to present themselves at a port of entry and access asylum. However, exemptions to the policy are processed in some cases.
To receive consideration for the exemption, volunteers help migrants fill out and submit official forms. If CBP approves their exemption, they must undergo a process, including receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, prior to their scheduled appearance at the port of entry.
Recently, two shelters closed in Matamoros, even though the need did not significantly decrease.
A parcel of private land owned by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in Matamoros was offered as a site to provide assistance to vulnerable migrants awaiting entry into the U.S. The Sidewalk School, a nonprofit organization based in Brownsville, is working on making improvements to open the center, according to cofounder Victor Cavazos.
Some necessary infrastructure was already installed. Originally, the Resource Center for Asylum Seekers added a septic system, since there was no plumbing, Cavazos said. They also added a foundation for restrooms. Now, the Sidewalk School plans to finish construction by the walls, sinks, toilets and showers.
Although the place will provide rest for migrants, Cavazos said it will be a respite center, not a shelter, like Senda de Vida which the Sidewalk School assists in Reynosa.
“What we learned in Reynosa at Senda de Vida was how important it is to have walls and a gate around the perimeter to control who goes in and out. We really can’t have that space function as a shelter the way that it is with just the four-foot fence,” Cavazos said.
The Matamoros site is not close to the bridge as the one in Reynosa, but once complete it should provide people a place for those who are passing through.
“Some people may be outside of Matamoros and they need to come into Matamoros on their scheduled date,” Cavazos said. “A respite center is somewhere where someone could come and receive services. If they need to rest for a while, they can do so. We plan on, depending on the person, maybe two or three nights.”
The Sidewalk School will be working to add cots and large tent-like structures to provide a place for men and women with children, but the construction of the restroom areas will take a little longer.
Still, one of the delays is due to funding.
“It all comes down to budget,” Cavazos said. They have some donors lined up, but are still working on gathering the funds.
The center is expected to be operational in about a month.
