In some ways it feels like it could be any other Christmas in El Paso. Families who live here stroll through the annual holiday display downtown where a 55-foot tree glitters with ornaments and hundreds of thousands of tiny lights are strung everywhere. People snap photos near the life-size nativity scene depicting the baby Jesus in the manger.⁠ ⁠ As the Christmas story goes, there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph. It's what thousands of migrants who've recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border now face — no place to sleep or stay.⁠ ⁠ Just a few blocks away from the Christmas festivities, a young mother cradles her 4-month-old baby on the sidewalk outside the bus station.⁠ ⁠ Over the last few days, some churches have opened their doors to all migrants, regardless of their immigration status, bringing them in from the bitter cold.⁠ ⁠ While migrants had been hoping for the biggest Christmas gift of all, the lifting of pandemic border restrictions that would allow them to seek asylum in the United States, which did not happen, they are grateful for the kindness of strangers this holiday season.⁠ ⁠ Tap the link in our bio for more.⁠ ⁠ (Images: @jimurquhartpics • Jim Urquhart for NPR)