SAN ANTONIO — At the start of 2024, funding to keep San Antonio's Migrant Resource Center in operation was slashed by FEMA.
As a result, Catholic Charities, the organization running the facility, had to lay off employees and halt the purchase of travel tickets for migrants to make their way to their final destination.
In an interview with KENS 5 January 3, Catholic Charities CEO, Antonio Fernandez, said they brought in three new tents to hold an additional 500 migrants, bringing the facility's capacity to 1,200.
Even with increased capacity, Fernandez predicted more migrants will be on the streets.
"The sad reality is that we don't have the capacity to supply more people," Fernandez explained. "We're going to be trying our best to actually just provide for the people outside to some degree as much as we can with donations."
Just last month, the City of San Antonio accepted more than $20 million from FEMA's Shelter and Services Program "...to fund [Migrant Resource Center] operations through the end of the grant term," which is Sept. 30, 2026.
What the money isn't covering is travel tickets out of San Antonio, leaving many migrants stuck with the responsibility of paying their own way out.
"I have friends who I'll be staying with in Chicago," said Joser Simon Segura Soto, a Venezuelan staying at San Antonio's Migrant Resource Center -- a facility known to many travelers as siete mil (referring to its address of 7000 San Pedro).
Soto arrived in San Antonio one week ago.
His childhood friends who live in Chicago helped buy his ticket to the Windy City. For $109, he'll head north June 27 with a court date for his asylum case in November. He booked an appointment through the CBP One app.
"Thanks to God, they helped me a lot," said Soto. "When in Chicago, I want to sort out all of my documents so I can get a work permit...I have experience in cell phone repair and in construction, but I'm open to any work opportunities because I'm a fast learner."
Not all asylum-seekers have sponsors like Soto.
Naimar Pereira, who traveled from Venezuela had her court hearing in Brownsville through CBP One June 12. She crossed the border with her husband, 12-year-old son and 2-year-old twin boys.
"We need to find work so we can but a ticket to New York," said Pereira. "We want a better quality of life for our children. We want to live somewhere where we can establish a home and help our children get a better education, play sports -- have a future. We want to work to give them a better future. We do it all for our children."
She said they selected New York City to settle down, with the hope of better job opportunities there.
For families like the Pereiras, the clock is ticking. They told KENS 5 they're given 45 days to stay at the Migrant Resource Center.
Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy & Outreach, says of the 2,100 people they help each week, 60% are migrants.
"The fact that there's no funding to get them to their final destination, they're stuck. So when they're stuck in that holding pattern, they're gonna come to us," Allen explained. "It's just a large, large number that we're seeing."
Small children, for example, are brought in without any shoes to wear. Eagle's Flight SA's Jovonie's Hugs will provide babies with diapers, clothing, formula and anything parents may need -- regardless of where they're from.
The number of migrants coming through the Alamo City this year plummeted from 8,264 in January to 5,607 in May.
Last year, most months saw three to five times as many people -- with 22,869 arriving at the Migrant Resource Center in May, 25,291 in August and 25,921 in December 2023.
The majority of people coming through the facility are natives of Venezuela, followed by Nicaragua and Cuba.
Even with lower numbers this year, with no way out for these families, they'll need more help.
Plus, for those who are stuck here, Allen says they become more susceptible to exploitation.
"That has been a concern of ours, not just because of the fact that they're stuck, but they're desperate," said Allen. "Someone who's promising help, someone saying, 'If you do this I'll give you some money.' These traffickers are savvy now."
Allen says Eagles Flight is supplying migrants with resources about how to avoid human trafficking, and additional information about what rights they have.
"We have homeless bags that we give out to the homeless population in San Antonio. We've had to replenish that multiple times because sometimes all they want is the hygiene, snacks and food to put on their back and keep on looking for help," she added. "We're going to continue to help them until our government can figure out exactly what we're going to do."
In a statement to KENS 5, the City of San Antonio's Department of Human Services said, "The City of San Antonio, in collaboration with non-profit partners, including Catholic Charities, continues to serve asylum seekers released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that are legally traveling through San Antonio to host city destinations across the country. Since January 2024, Catholic Charities and our partners have not had funds allocated or available to support onward travel for asylum seekers.
According to the migrants’ feedback when being processed at the Migrant Resource Center/Centro de Bienvenida (MRC), only about 1% are indicating their preference to remain in San Antonio. The City’s service providers have not indicated a significant number of individuals requesting local services. Caseworkers from Catholic Charities provide information to migrants of the local resources and services that are available when they leave the MRC."
For more information about Eagles Flight Advocacy & Outreach, visit EaglesFlightSA.com. Their outreach center is located on the south side at 2707 W. Gerald, open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you'd like to help donate items to Catholic Charities, you can stop by St. Stephen's CARE Center at 2127 S. Zarzamora Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clothing, toys and hygiene items are accepted.