Team Brownsville Dissolves as New Nonprofit Aids Migrants

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BROWNSVILLE, Texas — After seven years of dedicated service to migrants, the nonprofit organization Team Brownsville has officially closed its doors. However, some of its members have taken it upon themselves to create a new initiative that will continue the mission of supporting those in need.

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The new group is called Madrinas de Justicia, or Godmothers for Justice. This organization is affiliated with Grannies Respond, a New York-based nonprofit that supports similar causes across the country.

“We felt like we needed to ally ourselves to align ourselves with another nonprofit in a different state for support, for protection, so that we could continue doing important work,” said Andrea Rudnik, a founding member of Team Brownsville.

Rudnik, who is 65, and two other retirees, Gerry Page and Kathy Harrington, both 78, decided to take this step after facing challenges from the Texas Attorney General’s office and policies implemented by the Trump administration that restricted asylum opportunities for migrants.

Although the case against Team Brownsville was dropped after courts ruled in favor of the organization, Rudnik expressed concerns about the current political climate. She believes that affiliating with an out-of-state organization will provide a broader network of protection for their continued efforts.

“All three of us have put in a lot of heart and a lot of love into the work of Team Brownsville. But we did not feel safe anymore as an organization to continue having a nonprofit that was based here in Texas because of the current administration’s stance,” Rudnik explained.

Despite the closure, the new organization plans to continue assisting migrants in northern Mexican border towns such as Reynosa and Matamoros. They will also support migrants in the United States who are waiting on the outcome of their asylum cases and need help finding employment and basic necessities.

Team Brownsville had previously helped thousands of migrants over the years. Volunteers regularly transported wagons filled with supplies and meals to shelters and encampments in Matamoros. The group also operated a Welcome Center in Brownsville, which was owned by the city and provided assistance to migrants who were legally released by the federal government after crossing the border.

However, the center has since closed, and border crossings have reached historic lows during the second Trump administration.

Despite these challenges, the members of Madrinas de Justicia remain committed to their cause. They plan to continue providing essential services to migrants who are unable to cross the border due to current policies. This includes offering hygiene products, emotional support, and simple acts of kindness such as a friendly smile or a warm hug.

Page, who is a great-grandmother, shared that some migrants still hold onto hope that they will be able to cross the border and claim asylum soon. “There are some that are still hopeful. And they’re holding onto that hope,” she said.

Harrington, who used to run a business, emphasized the importance of continuing to support those who wish to make the United States their home. “We did lots of really important, wonderful work. And we had volunteers come from all over the country to work with us. Team Brownsville was a great organization,” Rudnik reflected.

She added that while the past was significant, the future must now take precedence. “We have to move on toward the future.”

Those interested in supporting the new organization can find more information on their Facebook page.