Companions on the Journey

The Albuquerque asylum seeker assistance effort is now focusing on assisting at the border. How can you help?


Thank you to all the amazing volunteers and donors who helped us support asylum seeking families as they made their way through Albuquerque. With recent changes in government policies and the Remain in Mexico Mandate (officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols - MPP) in effect, fewer people are crossing the border or are being released from detention centers.

The majority are sent back to Mexico and have to wait months for their first appointment to report to an immigration officer. El Paso is still receiving several hundred a week, but the majority of individuals are in Juarez, Mexico, and new shelters are opening throughout the city. Several buses from Juarez are returning people to potential peril in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. 

We have identified some families in New Mexico that are living in the state and are in need of assistance. Click on the VOLUNTEER tab to learn more on how to be involved. Donation of funds, transportation, ESL classes, team of volunteers to assist families in the state are some ways to assist.

Catholic Charities is now partnering with other groups in Albuquerque to aid organizations at the border. We will continue to update the community here. 

We created an art exhibit and made a video to offer a glimpse into how the city came together to promote tolerance, understanding and the importance of lending a helping hand. Watch and share our video:

​​HOW YOU CAN HELP


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(click each section to expand)

Donate
There are several great organizations you can donate to support asylum seekers at the border:

​ Update on In-Kind Donations 
We are thankful for the continuous and generous donations from everyone. Because of the stop in buses, we are no longer taking in-kind donations. We still have quite a few supplies left from our collections this summer, that we are now taking to shelters at the border. 

We visited Casa Del Migrante and Comedor Pan de Vida. Click here to learn more about our visit.

Assistance in Juarez is needed. Volunteers and donations are welcome! See above list of institutions support families in the border. 

Volunteer
  • A few families have recently arrived in Albuquerque and are in the asylum seeking process. They need assistance learning about Albuquerque and how to settle here while they wait for their case hearing. Spanish speaking volunteers are needed to help with English classes, filling forms, transportation and supplies.
  • If you are interested in assisting these families, leave a message at 505-333-8059  and the volunteer coordinator from the City will contact you. You can also reach her by email at 5sitecouncil@gmail.com. 
  • Needs in Albuquerque:
    • Fees for Drivers' license - $18 + classes if needed.
    • Fees for Work-Permit - $495 
    • Food Assistance
    • Rent Assistance
    • Transportation to El Paso, to appear at the court (pay greyhound bus)
    • Transportation to NMILC, medical offices, etc
    • ​Transportation to Immigration Office
  • Volunteers are also engage with bringing items to the border or donating to entities that are working at the border. 
  • We have visited Casa Del Migrante and Comedor Pan de Vida and these shelters continue to need assistance. Click here to learn more about our visit.​

​We also have several volunteer opportunities with our Center for Refugee Support to assist recently resettled refugees living in Albuquerque. Click here to learn more. 
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Learn & Advocate

PARTNERS

We would like to thank the following groups for their collaboration and support in this project:

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​MORE INFORMATION

Creating Hope For Anyone In Need

Check out the following links for news and updates about this humanitarian effort throughout Albuquerque and the U.S.:

Art in the midst of gray ​​

Most Migrants at Border Would be Denied Asylum Protections Under New Rule

Migrants in Mexico Seeking U.S. Asylum Wait Amid Dangerous Conditions

Vulnerable Asylum Seekers are Sent to Mexico to Await Hearings

Migrants Cram Shelters Awaiting Political Asylum to the US

Migrants Cram Hostels in Ciudad Juarez

Changing Policies Have Reduced the Number of Migrants Needing Temporary Shelter in NM

Border Aid Bill Includes Funding for NM Communities

​NM Cities to Apply for Federal Reimbursement for Assisting Migrants

See the Statement from Sister Donna Markham OP, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, Addressing Humanitarian Crisis at the Border

Project CommUNITY: New Mexico leaders react to Immigration on KOAT

Watch Jim Gannon, Catholic Charities CEO/Executive Director, and Gary Coffin, Indivisible Nob Hill Vice President, on New Mexico in Focus discussing how you can help asylum-seekers

Listen to Celia Yapita, Catholic Charities Chief Program Officer, and other women involved in welcoming migrants through Albuquerque on Women's Focus with Carol Boss on KUNM

Read about Companions on the Journey in the April issue People of God Magazine

Read the interview with Jim Gannon (CC CEO/ED) in the Rio Rancho Observer

Watch the Full Video of Press Conference with Mayor Keller, Archbishop Wester, and Jim Gannon (CC CEO/ED)
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Confused about how the complex asylum process works? Check out this article from the Albuquerque Journal explaining each step from crossing the border to a formal asylum hearing
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Press Release from the City of Albuquerque

Archbishop John C. Wester's Blog

KOAT Action 7 News: Helping Migrants

Listen to Jim Gannon discuss the effort in March and April with Mary Woods on the Archbishop's Hour on Catholic Radio:
March 20, 2019      April 17, 2019

AP News: US expands 'catch and release' amid surge in migrants

Watch CCN's Chris Cuomo takes a look at life in border shelters

Watch CNN's Chris Cuomo gets firsthand view of border crisis

Annunciation House provides direct hospitality to those most in need along Texas-Mexico border, focusing especially on people in migration. Because the current need is often exceeding their capacity, organizations in Albuquerque and other cities have been working with Annunciation House to help with his humanitarian effort. Click here to learn more about Annunciation House.

Washington Post Profile on Ruben Garcia, Annunciation House Director

In answering this emergent call for help, we at Catholic Charities still continue our many programs to assist nearly 17,500 people a year throughout Central New Mexico, regardless of religion, race, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, or age. Check out our center pages to learn more:
The mission of Catholic Charities is to put faith in action to improve the lives of those in need. We provide services to promote self-sufficiency, strengthen families, fight poverty, and build community. As the local 501(c)(3) affiliate of Catholic Charities USA, we remain dedicated to finding solutions to some of the most pressing social challenges individuals, children and families face regardless of race, religion, color, country of origin, disabilities, gender, age, or sexual orientation.