McAllen responds to migrant surge with temporary emergency shelters 15 hours 15 minutes 37 seconds ago Wednesday, August 04 2021 Aug 4, 2021 August 04, 2021 11:48 AM August 04, 2021 in News - Local Share: In response to overcrowding at the Catholic Charities Respite Center, the city of McAllen announced a temporary emergency shelter to house the “overwhelming number of immigrants stranded in McAllen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection” the city stated in a news release. The McAllen city commission approved the shelter following a Monday Declaration of Local Disaster issued by McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, the release stated. The shelter is located on property owned by the city on 23rd Street near Buddy Owens.