46-years ago Ruben Garcia, now 75, began Annunciation House to shelter immigrants. Today, it has shelters in El Paso, Texas and one in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, all run by volunteers.

But now there are many more desperate immigrants:

32-year-old Guatemalan immigrant Nivia Lopez Cruz, was smuggled across the border but recalls little else.

Detectives and doctors said she was raped and beaten, and left for dead.

At the ER, her heart stopped, but doctors revived her. Sadly, her wounds were infected, and they had to amputate her leg to save her life.

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Eventually, she wound up in Annunciation.

"She was lying on the floor and crying," Ruben told The Washington Post. "And it was one of those moments where I was caught up in the immensity of her complete aloneness."

Ruben Garcia. Photo: pbs.org

Annunciation is helping her build a new life.

Over the years Ruben has rescued thousands of immigrants, he calls "guests."

Working with U.S. immigration officials, Ruben provides "guests" with their first U.S. home, food, clothing and medical care.

Seeing this as a spiritual calling, he is determined to help the most vulnerable regardless of their immigration status.

There was the Colombian family that escaped their crime-stricken town, crossed the border and had no place to live.

Or the 25-year-old mother who risked the perils of crossing nine nations with her 3-year-old daughter, only to learn she has cancer.

Ruben Garcia speaks with migrant parents on June 26, 2018. Photo: nbcnews.com

If it appears Ruben is doing Mother Teresa work, he is. He met her many years ago and when the Catholic diocese gave him his first building he wrote to tell her about it.

In reply, she appealed to him to announce [Annunciation, in Spanish] his new shelter and bring in those in need. For 46-years, Ruben has done this on a grand scale.

Editor's Note: To learn more washingtonpost.com, annunciationhouse.org and elpasotimes.com.

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