Michael DeBruhl, a 67-year-old El Paso native, has had a unique and transformative career. From working as a border patrol agent, detaining migrants and enforcing U.S. border laws, he now directs a migrant reception center, welcoming new arrivals and assisting them in their initial days in the country.
DeBruhl’s journey began in the mid-1980s when he transitioned from being a teacher to joining Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after attending a job fair. Influenced by his father’s long career at the ports of entry, DeBruhl was drawn to the stability and benefits offered by CBP. He soon learned from his father that being a border patrol agent involved dealing with people and treating them with dignity and respect. This advice stayed with him throughout his 26-year career.
After retiring at the mandatory age of 55, DeBruhl chose to volunteer at the Casa del Sagrado Corazón (House of the Sacred Heart) Church in El Paso. This church operates a migrant shelter, providing essential services to migrants who have just crossed the border. Since late 2022, DeBruhl has been the director of this shelter. The shelter, though designed to accommodate 120 people, has had to stretch its capacity to shelter between 200 and 250 migrants during crises, such as the one experienced just before Christmas when about 800 people were on the streets.
At the House of the Sacred Heart, DeBruhl and his team offer migrants a brief respite of two to five days. They ensure that the migrants feel safe, receive three meals a day, have clothing, and can contact their sponsors—friends or relatives in the U.S. who support them financially. DeBruhl notes that migrants appreciate the small gestures, such as the freedom to choose their own clothes.
DeBruhl’s dual perspective as both a former border patrol agent and now a migrant aid worker gives him a unique understanding of the complexities at the border. He recognizes the disparity between policies set in Washington and the realities on the ground. He criticizes the demonization of migrants, emphasizing that the vast majority are not criminals. His extensive experience allows him to navigate the bureaucratic challenges migrants face and advocate for more humane treatment and better resources.
Returning to El Paso after his retirement, DeBruhl moved to Segundo Barrio, a historically Hispanic neighborhood known for its migrant population. This area holds personal significance for him, as he played there as a child and his grandparents lived there. Currently, the majority of migrants at the shelter are Venezuelans, and DeBruhl feels a deep connection to the community.
DeBruhl is critical of the current immigration system and advocates for more legal avenues for migration. He believes that while securing the border is important, it is equally necessary to provide more pathways for legal migration and support existing legalization processes. His journey from a border patrol agent to a migrant shelter director highlights the potential for empathy and change within the immigration system.