More than 400 undocumented immigrants were dropped off unexpectedly outside a Greyhound bus terminal in downtown El Paso, Texas, on Sunday and Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, and more are expected, the El Paso Times reports.
Greyhound spokeswoman Crystal Booker told CNN the company wasn’t given prior notice.
“All of a sudden a bunch of people show up; ICE drops them off,” she said. “We weren’t expecting it.”
Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who helped pass out food to the asylum seekers, said Sunday ICE “made a mistake in not alerting the community.”
Possibly 200 more immigrants are expected to be released on Christmas Day, said Rep.-elect Veronica Escobar.
"Everything keeps changing by the hour," Escobar said.
Lori Burnett, a volunteer at Nazareth Hall, said Annunciation House, which helps immigrants passing through the area, took them in.
ICE, when reached by CNN, blamed inaction by Congress.
"To mitigate the risk of holding family units past the timeframe allotted to the government, ICE has curtailed reviews of post-release plans from families apprehended along the southwest border," reads an emailed statement. "ICE continues to work with local and state officials and NGO partners in the area so they are prepared to provide assistance with transportation or other services."