Over 600 migrants from a camp in Matamoros, Mexico, have been transferred to Brownsville, Texas, with those unable to afford hotels being accommodated at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen. Managed by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, the center, a former nightclub, now receives 200-300 new arrivals daily, offering rest, legal advice, showers, clothing, and food. The majority of the migrants are young mothers with children, aiming to travel onwards to various U.S. states.

In Matamoros, Mexico, thousands of asylum seekers, primarily from Central America and Cuba, are living in a makeshift encampment as they await the processing of their asylum cases in the United States. The camp has grown into a shantytown, with infrastructure and charity support coming from across the border. The US government's Migrant Protection Protocols, known as the 'Remain in Mexico' program, requires these individuals to wait in Mexico, often for months. Local charities, grassroots groups, and NGOs like World Central Kitchen and Global Response Management have stepped in to provide food, medical services, and other basic needs. The Mexican government has also contributed by providing infrastructure such as awnings, portable bathrooms, and a water filtration system. Legal representation is scarce, with less than one percent of asylum seekers having counsel, resulting in a low success rate for asylum claims. The article highlights the challenges faced by these individuals, including the difficulty of navigating the US immigration system without legal assistance.

The article examines the impact of U.S. border policies on COVID-19 infection rates, addressing criticisms from figures like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Fox News host Sean Hannity. Public health experts argue that unvaccinated individuals, not migrants, are the primary drivers of rising cases. Migrants are generally tested for COVID-19, and those testing positive are quarantined. The article highlights the role of local governments and nonprofits in managing migrant health, and clarifies that the federal government has not disclosed data on migrant infection rates. Experts refute claims that migrants are responsible for introducing the delta variant to the U.S.