Trump-Era Shelter Crackdown Clashes with Continued Migrant Releases

McALLEN, Texas — Despite warning shelters that providing aid to undocumented migrants could be illegal, the Trump administration quietly continued to release people into the care of those very shelters along the U.S.-Mexico border — placing humanitarian groups in a legal and ethical bind.

For years, border shelters have served as a vital lifeline for migrants, offering meals, temporary housing, and help with transportation. But a March 11 letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) cast a shadow over that work. The letter raised “significant concerns” that offering such aid might violate anti-smuggling laws, and demanded detailed records as part of a sweeping federal investigation.

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

Shelters Asked to Help — Then Threatened

Even after FEMA’s warning, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — a fellow Department of Homeland Security agency — continued to ask shelters in Texas and Arizona to take in migrants. The conflicting messages left nonprofit groups walking a tightrope.

Catholic Charities in Laredo hosted 8 to 10 migrants daily from ICE after the FEMA letter, until it was forced to close on April 25 due to financial losses and lack of federal reimbursement. “We were asked to help — and we did,” Solloa said. “But we just couldn’t keep going.”

Who Are the Migrants?

The people being released come from all over the world — India, China, Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Latin America — and many were held in detention centers for weeks. Some crossed the border illegally and were flown in from places like San Diego. Others were arrested within the U.S. and later released by immigration judges while their deportation cases played out.

“We get families from as far as Papua New Guinea,” said Michael Smith, a Methodist pastor and executive director of the Holding Institute Community Center in Laredo. Despite the risks, he continued accepting families. “There are some things that are just right to do,” he added.

Tensions with the Biden Comparison

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin pointed out the contrast with the Biden administration’s approach. Under Biden, ICE typically verifies a sponsor — such as a family member or an NGO — before releasing someone, rather than letting them out at public bus stops.

Still, deportation remains complicated due to diplomatic and logistical hurdles. When countries won’t take people back, ICE sometimes sends them to third countries — or, if that’s not possible, releases them within the U.S.

Families Add More Complexity

Families with children pose another challenge. ICE is generally barred from detaining minors for more than 20 days under a court settlement. The Trump administration announced plans to challenge that limit — another signal of its hardline stance.

Despite the public messaging, data show that ICE under Trump still released significant numbers of people, even as Border Patrol drastically reduced so-called “catch-and-release” at the border. From February through April, Border Patrol released just seven people — down from over 130,000 during the same period under President Biden. But ICE’s release numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Aid Groups Face Financial Fallout

The government’s contradictory policies have had real consequences for shelters. FEMA awarded over $640 million to support shelters in fiscal year 2024 — but froze payments amid its legal review. To resume funding, shelters must submit extensive documentation and certify they haven’t broken smuggling laws.

Catholic Charities in Laredo, which had hosted over 120,000 people since 2021, expected up to $7 million in FEMA reimbursements. Instead, it shut down after losing nearly $1 million. “We simply ran out of money,” Solloa said.

The Holding Institute has gone from 45 staff and volunteers to just seven. To save costs, they now serve mostly meatless meals, despite continuing to receive families each week.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Phoenix, which didn’t receive a FEMA letter, continues to help. In a statement, IRC said it remains committed to providing food, water, hygiene kits, and information to those in need.

A Fragile but Crucial Relationship

Despite the scrutiny and funding freezes, many shelter directors say their working relationships with ICE agents on the ground have remained professional.

“We’ve always worked well with our federal partners,” Solloa said. “But at some point, we just have to say: we’re hurting. We can’t do this anymore.”