Release of migrants on Texas border strains volunteers

MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Eulogio Erazo Varela, 28, from Honduras, comforts his ill daughter Kimberlin Erazo, 3, while joining recently released migrants who wait to catch a bus at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Varela was planning to travel to Memphis, Tenn. to stay with a friend. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus or airplane to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

April 4, 2019 5:48 PM PT

Volunteers scrambled to help hundreds of Central American asylum seekers released by U.S. border authorities Thursday in McAllen, Texas, part of recent mass releases of migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center offers migrants a temporary home in McAllen, Texas. Those who work with immigrants in this border town are facing new challenges as U.S. authorities release of thousands of detained asylum seekers.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Recently released migrants fill the hallways Wednesday at the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas. Volunteers with Catholic Charities provide food, a place to sleep and transportation to the bus station or airport.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Recently released migrants leave the Catholic Charities Humanitarian Respite Center on Wednesday en route to the McAllen, Texas, bus station.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Susan Law, left, and Rafael Mendoza, far right, volunteers with Angry Tias and Abuelas, assist migrants, who were recently released from custody, where they are going in the U.S. and how to deal with upcoming legal activities at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Volunteer Luis Guerrero, 64, foreground, with Catholic Charities, answers questions for recently released migrants at the McAllen Central Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Volunteer Luis Guerrero, left, helps out recently released migrants Wednesday at the bus station in McAllen, Texas.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Emily Yoany Martinez, 3, sticks close to father Luis Alonso Martinez of Honduras at the McAllen, Texas, bus station on Wednesday as Dilian Escalon Alberto, right, holds her itinerary to Springfield, Va.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

MCALLEN, TX - APRIL 3, 2019 - - Roland Garcia, 60, right, with Angry Tias and Abuelas, gives bags of food to recently released migrants at the McAllen Central Bus Station in McAllen, Texas on April 3, 2019. Migrants, recently released from custody, travel by bus or airplane to stay with relatives and friends in the United States. Volunteers from Angry Tias and Abuelas, Catholic Charities, and local churches find new challenges with the expected release in the coming days of some 5,600 immigrants in McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)