MCALLEN TEXAS
McAllen Texas. Humanitarian Respite Center
As immigrants are released from the detention centers (ICE facilities) they are typically dropped at a bus station wearing their ankle bracelets. They cannot be released from the detention facilities until there is guaranteed payment for a bus ticket by a sponsor somewhere in the U.S. In McAllen there is a Humanitarian Respite Center located right near that bus station. Volunteers work day and night sorting food and clothing, cleaning, and cleaning some more to make the released individuals ready for their journey to the sponsor. They arrive at the center and are processed as far as confirming the bus ticket payment. They are given a hot meal or meals depending how long they must stay before the ticket is confirmed. They also take showers, get new clothing and are finally able to put shoelaces back into their shoes. The border patrol removes shoelaces and belts immediately.
Recently a children's area was built in the small building to allow the children to play during this stressful step.
Art Supplies were gathered and flown to Texas to allow the kids and adults to make art during the process before getting on a bus. Here are some of the images.
As immigrants are released from the detention centers (ICE facilities) they are typically dropped at a bus station wearing their ankle bracelets. They cannot be released from the detention facilities until there is guaranteed payment for a bus ticket by a sponsor somewhere in the U.S. In McAllen there is a Humanitarian Respite Center located right near that bus station. Volunteers work day and night sorting food and clothing, cleaning, and cleaning some more to make the released individuals ready for their journey to the sponsor. They arrive at the center and are processed as far as confirming the bus ticket payment. They are given a hot meal or meals depending how long they must stay before the ticket is confirmed. They also take showers, get new clothing and are finally able to put shoelaces back into their shoes. The border patrol removes shoelaces and belts immediately.
Recently a children's area was built in the small building to allow the children to play during this stressful step.
Art Supplies were gathered and flown to Texas to allow the kids and adults to make art during the process before getting on a bus. Here are some of the images.
