North Texas Charities Feel Strain of Illegal Immigrant Tidal Wave

HOUSTON, Texas–Charities and attorneys in North Texas are strained as a result of the tidal wave of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally, hundreds of miles away at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Catholic Charities in Fort Worth has organized aid and shelter for more than 200 illegal immigrant minors from Central America. Heather Reynolds, the president of Catholic Charities Fort Worth, told the Fort Worth Star Telegram, “Our nation is facing a humanitarian crisis. We are called to step up.”

Most of the youngsters in Fort Worth have reportedly been reunited with relatives. Others were placed in foster care, according to the Telegram. 

Reynolds’ organization is additionally assisting other charities set up housing facilities for the wave of minors.

Less than one hour away, in Dallas, charities are apparently attempting to train volunteer lawyers who will give legal advice to the migrants. Catholic Charities and Human Rights Initiative of North Texas–a nonprofit–sponsored a training session for people interested in doing pro-bono work for the immigrants. 

In addition, Dallas has started a separate juvenile docket to accommodate the cases involving the migrant children, according to the Associated Press. 

Charities have played an increasingly critical role in accommodating the young immigrants as federal resources and facilities have become completely overwhelmed. Daniel Tirado, a Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol spokesman, told Breitbart Texas that more than 1,000 individuals are apprehended for illegal entry into the U.S. each day.

In addition to helping to provide shelter and legal advice, volunteers have also been pivotal in providing medical care for the foreigners. Students from the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) in the physician assistant program have been helping out at Border Patrol stations, according to Valley Central. Several infections and diseases have already been discovered within the migrant population–most notably, scabies. 

Many experts believe that the border crisis will only get worse. 

Victor Manjarrez–a professor at the University of Texas El Paso, former Chief Patrol Agent of Tucson Sector, and former Chief Patrol Agent in El Paso Sector–told Breitbart Texas that the border crisis will get better when substantive policy changes are put in place. He said that until that happens, “I honestly think that [the problem is] going to continue to get worse.”

Follow Kristin Tate on Twitter @KristinBTate.