Rio Grande Valley Migrant Respite Center

April 2021

Based on the current monthly trend, The U.S. is on track to surpass more than 2 million migrant encounters at the US-Mexico border by the end of their fiscal year. I sat down with Sister Norma Pimentel in downtown McAllen Texas for an interview to learn about her facility, her partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and how her facility aids migrants seeking asylum in the United States.

Known as “The Pop’s favorite Nun,” recognized by Time Magazine as an Icon and one of the most influential people of 2020, Sister Norma Pimentel, for decades, has devoted her time to supporting migrants seeking refuge in the United States. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center in downtown McAllen, Texas. Her facility provides a temporary place for migrants to rest, eat, shower, and receive medicine, among other supplies, as they transition from Border Patrol Custody to connect with their families within the United States. 

Janick: Why did you start Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley Humanitarian Respite Center?

Sister Norma: I started the humanitarian response in 2014 when we saw a significant spike of families and especially unaccompanied minors seeking refuge in the United States. They were being released by border patrol as they are today at the bus station, and that’s when I took the lead to organize this humanitarian response and haven’t stopped since.

Janick: Where are you from, and how did you end up on this path? 

Sister Norma: I’m originally from the Rio Grande Valley. Born in Brownsville, Texas, lived in San Juan, Texas, and have worked throughout the whole Valley. I am also a religious sister, went to school, and graduated with a counseling degree, so I have a Psychology and Theology background. I decided to do this because they are human beings. They are Mothers, they are children, and they need help. If people saw what I saw and got close enough to feel the pain and suffering of a mother and child crying, of course, they would help have helped also. As part of humanity and the human race, we must be there for each other.

Janick: How do migrants find your organization? 

Sister Norma: All migrants are brought to us by Border Patrol Officers daily from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm. Initially, we started receiving one hundred to two hundred people every day, and now it varies from a couple hundred to almost nine hundred daily.

Janick: How long is the average stay at the Facility?

Sister Norma: The people stay here a couple of hours to maybe the following day. Almost everyone, except for one or two, might last longer because their flight may not leave until the next day. If they come early in the morning, most likely, they are gone after lunch. 

Janick: What is the immigration status of the people dropped off at the facility?

Sister Norma: We only receive authorized individuals to remain in the United States while they go through the immigration process to determine if they can stay here permanently. It’s not final, but the first step to helping them become permanent residents. Most are from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Janick: You interact with numerous migrants daily. Do they share why they leave their countries to seek asylum in the United States?

Sister Norma: People leave their countries because they are afraid. They are so scared for their lives and the lives of their children. They also fear kidnapping and the recruitment of their children into gangs. Given the fear, they risk their lives to see if they can make it here in the United States.

Janick: Are there situations where your organization is not able to help?

Sister Norma: If there are situations where we cannot help, we refer them to a shelter that could keep them for weeks and sometimes months if needed, but that doesn’t happen often. In some cases, we would contact the Consulate of their Country to address the specific needs of the individual or family.

Janick: Do you maintain contact with migrants after they leave your facility?

Sister Norma: Sometimes they will contact us as they move on—especially those staying in Mexico for two years. I got to know them personally because I saw them almost daily. Many of them now within the United States would reach out regularly to let me know how they are doing. Sometimes our staff would follow up to check if they need help, especially with an attorney, what to do, or where to go.

Janick: What would reduce the number of migrants seeking asylum in the United States?

Sister Norma: If the United States Government focuses on finding solutions to stabilize the situation in those Countries, fewer people will risk their lives to seek asylum here. There needs to be a very aggressive effort to find ways to make those Countries safer so that children can go to school, be kept from joining gangs, and have jobs available for their citizens.

Janick: How has COVID-19 impacted the Organization?

Sister Norma: COVID-19 has put more of a need for us to respond and make sure that everybody that has been released to us by Border Patrol does not have Covid. We immediately set up a testing site on day one. We started at the bus stations, but the operation got out of hand, so the City provided us with all the tents and necessities across the street from the bus station. It worked out well because as the numbers have increased, so have the tents. We ensure every person arriving at our facility is tested for COVID-19. If positive, they are immediately taken to a hotel for quarantine until they test negative. Once they test negative, they can utilize our center, take the bus or go to the airport.

Janick: What are the sources of funding for the Organization? Are the volunteers paid? Also, tell me about each section.  

Sister Norma: Our response has been through donations from community members who stepped up wanting to help. I organized the desire of our community to help these families and be there for the mothers and children. Also, people across the United States and beyond have donated, and through everybody joining forces wanting to help these families, we can operate. Some volunteers get paid, and others do not. Volunteers at each section hand out papers, milk, shampoo, and anything migrants need. We also have a dining area for people to eat and rest until they leave.

Janick: What’s in the yellow envelope I see individuals with at the Bus Terminal and Airport? 

Sister Norma: Immigration papers that border patrol gave them state that they can remain in the United States. They can use these documents to travel domestically to connect with their family.

Sister Norma Pimentel interview was a collaboration between Nataliia Pugach and Janick Gilpin.