Bishop denies unlawful activity at El Paso migrant shelter

The Episcopal bishop of New Mexico is rejecting federal claims that a migrant shelter he oversees in El Paso is involved in illegal activities. Bishop Michael Hunn insists that the shelter operates legally and receives people brought by the Border Patrol. "Everything we did was legal," he stated in a recent interview. The shelter, part of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, provides temporary assistance to asylum seekers and has served around 1,700 people in its years of operation. It began as overflow for larger shelters and focuses on families and LGBTQ migrants, due to a lack of comfort from some other facilities concerning LGBTQ issues. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security froze funding for the shelter, suggesting it might have encouraged illegal border crossings. Hunn asserts that this is not true, emphasizing that all guests had already claimed asylum. The shelter also offers a space for educational programs about life along the border and was initially funded by donations. It later joined a federal program that reimbursed some operational costs. On March 11, the diocese received a letter from FEMA stating that they would withhold payments due to concerns over illegal activities. Hunn expressed frustration over the accusations, stating that the shelter has always worked closely with immigration officials. The diocesan officials are currently consulting legal advice on how to address the concerns raised by the federal letter. With the number of migrants arriving at the border low since December, the shelter is not currently housing anyone. However, Hunn mentioned that the diocese is prepared to continue its work without government funding. He emphasized that helping migrants is part of the church’s mission, which reflects the Christian command to care for those in need.