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The Trump administration has decided to withdraw federal funding from Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, which operates a migrant shelter in McAllen.
This South Texas charity is affiliated with Catholic Charities USA and serves as a branch of the Diocese of Brownsville. Its executive director, Sister Norma Pimentel, has gained international recognition for her advocacy for migrants.
Sister Pimentel, who established the migrant shelter in 2014 and has led it ever since, was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2020.” In 2023, she received a medallion of excellence from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. During Pope Francis’ papacy, she earned the affectionate title of the “Pope’s Favorite Nun.”
However, a recent government document shared with Fox News indicates that the organization has been prohibited from accessing federal funds for six years. This decision followed an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security that uncovered several violations of grant regulations, including discrepancies in the records pertaining to migrants.
The audit revealed almost 250 cases where the nonprofit utilized federal funds beyond the 45-day period allowed after a migrant’s release, according to Fox News.
In its statement, Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley emphasized that it was using federal funding to assist migrants referred to them by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, specifically those who had been released with documentation permitting them to travel to their intended destinations.
The organization did not provide further comments upon request. While it remains unclear how reliant the charity is on federal funding for its operations, it affirmed its commitment to serving every individual who seeks assistance with dignity and compassion.
The shelter offers a variety of services to migrants released from federal custody, including showers, meals, and clothing, acting as a temporary refuge before they proceed to their next locations in the United States.
“Those engaged in our humanitarian efforts are aware that our work genuinely helps restore human dignity,” Pimentel stated in the release. “I take very seriously every single dollar entrusted to us.”
The organization expressed its dedication to adhering to federal grant requirements and is actively working towards regaining eligibility for funding.
Last year, as the charity celebrated a decade of operations, Pimentel shared with Border Report that they have assisted over 500,000 migrants.
A few months ago, a House investigation led by U.S. Representative Mark Green of Tennessee, who chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security, along with Representative Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, scrutinized more than 200 organizations accused of “providing services or support to inadmissible aliens” during what has been termed the Biden-Harris administration’s historic border crisis.
Among the four organizations prioritized in this investigation was Catholic Charities USA, alongside the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Global Refuge, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the latter currently under criminal investigation initiated by Governor Greg Abbott.
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Colleen DeGuzman is a general assignment reporter. In addition to covering a wide range of subjects, she specializes in immigration issues within the state. Before joining this newsroom, Colleen was involved in enterprise reporting.
