Latter-day Saint Charities provides funding and volunteers at a new family transfer center, located in a warehouse operated by The National Association of Christian Churches
A Haitian family waded across the Rio Grande from Mexico into Texas on Thursday and surrendered to police who took them to the U.S. Border Patrol, which held the asylum-seekers for one night and then released them.
Instead of making their own way on the streets, the family accepted a bus ride to a new Family Transfer Center sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the YMCA and other charitable organizations in Houston, Texas.
“We can finally sleep at night without fearing our daughter will be hurt or killed or starve,” said Geraldo Joseph, 28, who lived in Chile for the past five years before a harrowing four-month journey through nine countries with Christine Zamor and their 2-year-old daughter, Mikailalay. We’re finally at peace as a family.”
Renewed border crossings are stressing the U.S. system all along the nation’s southern border, and charitable groups are struggling to provide humanitarian aid.
The center hosted its first 223 guests last week. It has the capacity to process up to 500 migrants a day. The partners involved in the project expect to operate the center for at least six months, according to a news release. Officials in Houston participated in a press conference announcing the partnerships Monday morning.
Latter-day Saint Charities is providing funding and volunteers at the center, which is located in a warehouse operated by The National Association of Christian Churches near the Houston airport. Other partners include Catholic Charities, YMCA International Services, Texas Adventist Community Services, Houston Responds and The Houston Food Bank.
“This center is an example of the tremendous good that can result when the community comes together as one to offer resources to ease the burden of others,” said Elder Carlos Villarreal, an Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “We want these migrant families to feel safe, welcome, and comfortable as they continue their journey.”
Thousands of migrants seeking asylum in the United States are released by the Border Patrol into border cities from Texas to California every day to await asylum hearings weeks and months in the future. Many of those cities are being overwhelmed, and the governor of Texas recently declared a disaster in 34 counties along the border.
Joseph and Zamor spent one night in the Family Transfer Center, then caught a Saturday afternoon flight to Florida that was paid for by friends and family.
“We’re really happy here in the migrant center,” Joseph said. “We have food. We have a shower and beds. Everyone has been really happy to see us. This is the happiest place we’ve been in three centers here.”
He said the first two centers were crowded and overwhelmed. On the journey from Chile to Mexico, he said the family faced discrimination and bands of robbers preying on their company of 20-30 migrants.
“Here, nobody cares that we are Black,” Joseph said. “Everyone here is nice, happy, and they ask us if we are OK and what we need.”
Migrants also are screened at the center for COVID-19 symptoms.
The center is located in a large warehouse in Houston.
Buses pull up to one entrance and migrants emerge into an intake area. They are provided food, hygiene kits, cots and more. Most leave within 24 hours to travel to stay with sponsor families around the country while they await their Title 8 hearings before an immigration judge.
Officials at the Family Transfer Center said the government is aware of their humanitarian efforts and welcomes them.
People interested in volunteering can visit the Volunteer Houston website. Volunteers undergo background checks.
The coalition of churches and charities plans to open a second Family Transfer Center on the south side of Houston if needed.
The YMCA of Greater Houston operates an International Services Center focused on providing for the holistic needs of refugees, victims of human trafficking and other newcomer populations, according to a press release.
“We are proud to partner with these other outstanding organizations in a community response to address the urgent transitional needs of these vulnerable individuals and families through these family transfer centers,” said Jeff Watkins, the chief international initiatives officer for the YMCA of Greater Houston. “These are places where they will be served with human kindness and dignity, fed, allowed to rest, catch their breath and prepare to travel on to their destination where their claims of asylum will be determined.”
This story will be updated.
from Deseret News https://ift.tt/34WOai0
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