SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Migrant Resource Center is feeling the impacts of less federal funding, including layoffs.
According to representatives for the center, as of January 1, funding has been drastically reduced.
Catholic Charities of San Antonio, CEO Antonio Fernandez says the center is no longer able to provide tickets, so migrants can make their way to their final destinations.
"So we have seen an increase of people who stayed in San Antonio, since December 31st," Fernandez said.
While the New Year holiday closures at the border, showed a decrease in migrants arriving in San Antonio, with 546 arriving over the past two days, Fernandez says it's only temporary.
"We are anticipating to have a lot of people who stayed in San Antonio since December 31," Fernandez said.
Fernandez says with the influx, they are doing their best to handle everyone with dignity and respects, but the lack of funding is not helping.
We actually had to let people go, so as soon as we have less money, we will have to reduce employees working at the site. So, right now we are partnering with the City of San Antonio, to ensure that we have enough personnel to cover the parking lot where we now have 3 tents," Fernandez said.
The new tents will hold an additional 500 migrants, brining the capacity to 1200. Fernandez said even with the new capacity, the lack of federal funding will see more people in the streets.
"The sad reality is that we don't have the capacity to supply more people. So, 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 these days," Fernandez said.
The community can deliver clothing, toys, and hygiene items donations to St. Stephens CARE Center, 2127 S. Zarzamora St., Monday-Friday 9am-2pm.
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