McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) -- Inside the once-thriving Humanitarian Respite Center in this South Texas border town, the chairs were empty Wednesday and if the staff receives 50 migrants in a day, it's considered a lot. A couple of years ago, there were over 1,500 asylum-seekers per day crammed into this former nightclub that Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley has transformed to offer food, toiletries and loving care to migrants after they are legally released by the Department of Homeland Security. Sister Norma Pimentel, the outspoken Catholic nun who runs Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, says the Biden administration has largely put a stop to migrants illegally crossing in between ports of entry. And if they do "they get sent back." 10th anniversary of Humanitarian Respite Center coincides with new asylum rules But she says she does not know what the future will bring after President-elect Donald Trump takes over again. She tells Border Report that she wants to work with the new leaders and hopes his administration will not force asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico under the Remain in Mexico, or Migrant Protection Protocols policy that saw thousands sent south of the border for months, and sometimes even years as they waited their immigration cases during his first Trump administration. Sister Norma Pimentel, who runs Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley and the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, hopes "Remain in Mexico" is not re-implemented by the Trump administration. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) "When we went through that in the past, we experienced and we saw a lot of people hurting, suffering tremendously. You know, my hopes are that it doesn't happen again, because it puts people in danger, people that already have an application put in for asylum, and they have a right to be in the United States while it processes,” Pimentel said at her offices at the Basilica of San Juan. “Why would they have to wait in Mexico? But whatever they're given, we would work with them to try to help them in that process, to get that asylum process going.” Trump to call on Border Patrol for help with deportations, expert says But she cautioned that fear-mongering and fretting about the future isn't helpful at this time. "We will wait to see what is happening. I don't think we need to get ahead of ourselves and try to project the future that is not here yet. Let us wait until that moment. And my interest is people -- humanity and people hurting. I will respond to care for somebody who is hurting, because I think it is our obligation to care for one another, especially those who are hurting and suffering and that need our help," she said. The Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, helped over 107,000 asylum seekers in 2023. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) When asked if she worries that funds from the Shelter and Service Program -- which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection -- could be cut or even curtailed, she said God will provide and that she believes the Rio Grande Valley community will come out to support asylum-seekers. "That was a blessing. It was a good it was something that helped," Pimentel said. "Before that it was 100% from the community, from all over the United States, supporting efforts like what we do. I think it challenges us to continue to respond and be part of helping humanity be OK." Pimentel says she will work with the new administration in whatever way they will allow her to. In the past, she has had a close working relationship with DHS and regularly gets called by U.S. Border Patrol agents and CBP officers when they are bringing migrants to her center or have a large group that needs respite care. Even with numbers low, she always has her ear to the ground with border law enforcement, north and south of the border. And she is a respected South Texas leader known throughout the world. Lately, her voice has been missing in the media after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tried to depose her -- as well as the leaders of four other centers that help migrants in Texas -- as his agency probes for possible human trafficking violations. A judge in Hidalgo County this summer ruled that Paxton does not have the authority to order Pimentel deposed. Judge rules in favor of Catholic Charities RGV in State of Texas’ investigation She did not discuss the case with Border Report on Wednesday. But she said her goal to help the unfortunate will never waver. And she said she will work with whoever is necessary to make sure that those who come to this country are treated humanely and with dignity. "I will be here to respond and to work with whoever is our leaders that want to be able to create something good for people who are in our country and needing our help," she said. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].