U.S.-Mexico Border Visit By County Councilman Focuses On Refugees

ROCKVILLE, MD — A group of volunteers and civic leaders in Texas last weekend were joined by Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz as they assembled and delivered care packages for refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border. Albornoz's visit came two weeks after the government shut down over border wall funding.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Albornoz (D-at large) said he visited the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, to deliver food, clothing, diapers, and other necessities for refugee families.

"My visit to (the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande) Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas was a deeply moving and humbling experience," said Albornoz. "I believe that there is more that we can do here in Montgomery County to support these families and provide assistance to Sister Norma and her team. I hope to explore ways to do so in the near future."

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit McAllen, Texas on Thursday to make his case for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The trip comes amid a stalemate between Trump and Democrats over border wall funding.

The McAllen-based respite center primarily serves border crossers coming from detention centers and immigration court proceedings. Asylum seekers can be released from detention if they have sponsors of family living in the States, TIME reported.

"This weekend's effort by the respite center provided the refugee families with basic items such as clothing, toiletry items, food, toys, diapers, and help coordinating travel to their destinations across the country, according to the press statement. "The center is now averaging 500 people per day and operates with a full-time staff of four people. It is expected that the truck load of supplies that was brought for the families will mostly be gone by the end of the week."

County officials said families are reportedly on their way to Houston, Florida, North Carolina, and Maryland.

Photo courtesy of Gabe Albornoz