[Video transcript]
The California border town of Jacumba Hot Springs has become a flashpoint for migration. Thousands of people have crossed into the United States here in recent months. Many of them from Latin America.
(First man)
"We are trying it here now, because most of Nicaraguans who crossed through Piedras Negras, they say they will send them back. Yes, that's why are trying our luck here."
(Second man)
"We are here now. Suffering, but we are here. Border Patrol has passed and took children and mothers with them. They said they would pick us in the morning hours."
These volunteers are helping them. Warm clothing after a rainy night and food. Many had no tents to sleep in. The next step is to wait for Border Patrol to pick them up for registration.
(Sam Schultz, volunteer)
"People get stuck here sometimes these days, usually for only a matter of hours. But there was times in at least six weeks ago where people here for 4 or 5 days in the same location."
Sam and his son John are locals. Along with other volunteers, they have been taking care of newly arrived migrants for months.
(John Schultz, volunteer)
"It's, quite frankly, kind of absurd that my family and just a group of regular volunteers are filling in this role. It should be done by the US government. There should be the Red Cross out here. There should be many different organizations, but they are just not here."
Daily, the volunteers scan the area along the border for people. The so-called San Judas Break, a gap in the border fence, used to pave the way for many migrants.
(John Schultz, volunteer)
"This is a transit camp that was set up by the Mexican National Guard. That was designed to halt any migrants that come through this gap over here. Prior to this establishment, we would see smugglers bringing people through non-stop throughout the day in cars driving up and down this dirt road over there."
Volunteers say that the strategy of deterring migrants does not work, because they will just search for other gaps as the legal ways of entry are limited. Sam and John don’t get financial support from the authorities. They are disappointed not just with Washington.
(Sam Schultz, volunteer)
"It's almost like they have given up on the visual PR aspects of it. They just don't care anymore. I mean, look at it. This has been going on for six months now. Steady, constant. And, nobody. Lots of talk, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Lots of talk. Lots of media attention to the talk. But you see anything change? I haven't."
Good news for this group of newly arrived migrants: After hours in the cold, Border Patrol came to pick them up. They will be registered, and a decision will be made on whether they can stay in the US, or they will be sent back to their countries.