Among the groups helping migrant families that have been newly released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody is Catholic Charities in San Antonio, Texas, which is trying to help local shelters by “doing intake to cleaning to cooking to whatever it took to provide some love and respect and dignity to these people while they were there,” said J. Antonio Fernandez, the group’s president.
With ICE breaking its own protocol by releasing some families without first making sure they have somewhere to go, localities have been overwhelmed with families in need of temporary shelter or a hot meal. Fernandez said he was told that “shelters that were used to accommodating 50 families a week were suddenly serving nearly two thousand people, and help was definitely needed.”
One church in Arizona, which preferred to not give its name to NBC News out of safety concerns, was helping families with Greyhound tickets, showers, and a meal. “We are all sitting here, all volunteers, all running around making sure we have enough pizza to feed lunch to everyone," said one church member. Back in Texas, “the people were grateful to see a smiley face,” said Fernandez. “They were happy to be free, and they really appreciated the fact they were together with their families and the children.”
Fernandez told Texas Public Radio he wished he could do more; but he’s already done so much, and certainly more than those in power who do nothing but fearmonger about the most vulnerable. “I have lived with them. I have spent nights taking care of them, days feeding them,” he continued. “I have taken people to my house to take showers; to eat. My daughter, who is 7 volunteers with me.”