LAS CRUCES - Because Las Cruces immigrant shelters are under strain, the city and county had asked Border Patrol officials to pause drop-offs of asylum-seeking migrants.

But instead, the U.S. Border Patrol dropped off more than 100 asylum seekers Friday morning at a bus station on Amador Avenue run by El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express Inc., a regional bus company.

In all, more than 100 migrants — in two separate groups — were dropped off by federal authorities on Friday morning at the regional bus service's station, 555 S. Valley Drive.

The asylees, legally present in the United States while their cases are in progress, move on to stay with family members or sponsors. Staying with a host family or other sponsor is a requirement of the asylum process. Once their paperwork is accepted, applicants are scheduled for immigration hearings.

City officials said drop-offs of migrants on city streets was the exact situation they were trying to avoid when federal authorities first decided in mid-April to begin releasing asylum-seeking immigrants in Las Cruces. To prevent dozens of people being dropped off with few resources to care for themselves, local officials and nonprofits scrambled to come up with a plan, designating a receiving and intake center and coordinating shelter for the migrants. Wednesday, the city opened a new receiving center for migrants, the former U.S. Army Reserve Center on Brown Road.

But that facility — able to shelter about 170 people overnight — soon reached capacity, said Jennifer Martinez, spokeswoman for the city.

"The minute the doors opened, they just filled them up," she said Friday.

Plus it's still lacking the Internet capability that would help expedite volunteers arranging travel to other parts of the country for migrants.

City and county officials had asked Border Patrol to pause the migrant drop-offs in Las Cruces. But the agency just dropped off migrants Friday at the privately owned bus station, instead of a city- or county-sponsored facility.

Meanwhile, city officials have renewed their requests for volunteers — both medical and non-medically trained — to step forward and for donations to help with the migrant influx. In particular, they're in need of people who speak Spanish.

Transit backlog

While most asylum-seeking migrants stay about 24 hours or so before traveling to sponsors in other parts of the country, how quickly they leave Las Cruces can be hindered by the availability of bus and air transit. And, with people traveling to the city for New Mexico State University's graduation this weekend, there's a backlog in transit, she said.

"We're at a time where, with the Border Patrol and us, we're hitting capacity," Martinez said. "For the city and the county, we're doing the best we can to accommodate the situation with the resources we have."

On Friday, Border Patrol announced four large groups, totaling 1,700 people, had crossed from Mexico into the United States the day before. Thursday represented the highest number of single-day "apprehensions" in the El Paso Sector, the Border Patrol claimed. It's not clear whether those crossing were asylum-seeking migrants.

Gospel Rescue Mission assists

One of the two groups dropped off Friday morning, comprised of about 50 people, walked to the Gospel Rescue Mission on Amador Avenue, not far from the bus station. The nonprofit had served as the Border Patrol's main drop-off point for asylum seekers from April 12 to April 26, when the organization withdrew from the role.

Exactly how the group knew to go to the Gospel Rescue Mission isn't known, said Henry Young, executive director for the homeless shelter. But he suspected agents had pointed out the mission as they drove by it.

"They brought themselves over to the mission," he said.

Even though the shelter is no longer the main drop-off point for migrants, Young said the migrants weren't turned away Friday. The mission provided lunch and a place for them to get out of the wind for several hours.

Since April 26, the Gospel Rescue Mission has continued to serve as an overnight shelter, as needed, for migrants.

In the past couple of weeks, since the Gospel Rescue Mission scaled back its involvement, the U.S. Border Patrol has dropped off the migrants at the Doña Ana County Crisis Triage Center, located near the county jail off Copper Loop. From there, they might wind up at the Brown Road shelter or another local shelter to spend the night.

Second group picked up

Martinez said city buses picked up the second group of migrants dropped off Friday at the bus station.

"As soon as we know they were here, we've got the buses coming to get them," she said.

The city will be alert for the Border Patrol dropping off any other migrants on city streets.

Asked about the decision to drop off migrants at the privately owned bus station on Friday, a Customs and Border Protection spokesman referenced more general remarks made by CPB Commissioner Kevin McAleenan about the situation.

"As stated by Commissioner McAleenan when he visited El Paso March 23 own recognizance releases are something we do not want to do but have been forced to as a last resort because lack of space in the system," said Roger Maier, based in El Paso. "When there is no space at ICE/ERO, HHS/ORR or the NGO’s, CBP will take this step."

More:Las Cruces opens center for asylum seekers released by Border Patrol

Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.

To help out

To city of Las Cruces released the following information for those who would like to help the influx of aslyum seekers.

The continued influx of asylum seekers to Las Cruces is increasing the strain on city and county resources, including people and materials. The need for fresh volunteers and donations is urgent.

“We are experiencing continuous drop-offs of asylum seekers by the U.S. Border Patrol and the numbers are increasing,” said Battalion Chief Michael Daniels with the Las Cruces Fire Department, who is serving as unified area commander at the Dona Ana County/City of Las Cruces Emergency Operations Center during this situation. “Many of the volunteers are working up to 16-hour days without relief. They are exhausted and need to be rotated out.”

Since they began arriving on April 12, approximately 4,200 asylum seekers have been served in Las Cruces. “That’s an average of 150 per day,” Daniels said. “We’re at the saturation point where providing ongoing services at current levels is becoming unsustainable, especially with our exhausted human resources.”

Persons interested in volunteering must be at least 18 years old and undergo a background investigation that includes a nationwide check for felony convictions and the sex offender registry. Medical volunteers will undergo a check to ensure valid medical licenses.

“We strongly urge all qualified adults to register to volunteer, especially Spanish speakers and those with medical experience,” said Interim City Manager Bill Studer. “Volunteers are particularly needed for overnight shifts, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.” Duties include supervising children, sorting clothes and replenishing bath towels and toiletries. “We are also appealing to faith-based organizations for volunteer support,” Studer said.

Those who want to volunteer should email dacasylumproject2@gmail.com.

Studer says in addition to fresh volunteers, monetary donations are needed for prescription medications and other medical supplies. To make monetary donations, contact the Heart for the Word Church, 1605 S Valley Drive in Las Cruces, 575-523-1113.

Those wanting to donate food should contact the Salvation Army at 220 E Idaho Avenue in Las Cruces, 575-524-4713 or Casa de Peregrinos, 999 W. Amador Avenue, Las Cruces, 575-523-5542. Donations of plastic folding tables and chairs, shade canopies, sunscreen, lip balm, children’s clothes, bath towels, backpacks and disposable diapers and wipes should be taken to the Las Cruces Gospel Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador Avenue, 575-523-7727.