TIJUANA- The number of migrants stranded at the border waiting to request political asylum in the United States is growing by the day. New families that arrive with only one hope, and manage to have space in a shelter that supports them for months or even years. But these sites that host migrants also need support.
In the Pro Amore Dei shelter in Tijuana there are 185 people, most of them children of these migrant families who are waiting to be able to request political asylum in the United States, however, while this happens, this shelter becomes their home, and this Wednesday, they received a donation that crossed the border to be able to support them in this process in which they are.
“Among friends we said we must help and that’s how it was done,” Andrés Martínez, a resident of Anaheim, California, told TELEMUNDO 20.
And it is that the desire to help is his inspiration.
Martínez, accompanied by his parents, drove for hours to be able to cross the border and deliver an aid chain to the migrant shelter.
It is for migrant children in El Chaparral
“I am passionate about it because it makes sense that today twice as much as last time came together,” said Martínez. “From granite to granite the heap is made is the only thing I can tell you, no matter how minimal a dollar is, it makes a difference.”
Her mother, María Martínez, said she is grateful for having this experience of giving to those in need.
“It is something very beautiful, a very beautiful experience, one of the children always learns. Thanks to my son, I have learned a lot,” said María Martínez.
What began as a collection among friends in Anaheim, California, has now turned into a month-long supplies for dozens of migrant families.
“It is very nice to see the effort of a family that summons others to help, and as you can see there are many of us and it is a blessing,” said Lety Herrera, director of Pro Amore Dei.
This Wednesday it was the women’s turn to receive cross-border aid.
In the past month, more than 3,000 migrants were deported
With a human chain that transported solidarity for those who see in this shelter, a temporary home, while they wait stranded on this border.
This is the case of a migrant from Honduras, who arrived in Tijuana just 8 days ago. She, together with her 5-year-old son, seeks to cross the border and meet her other little one who is already on the other side. She is one of the beneficiaries of this altruistic donation.
“There are several of us who are here, we have suffered on that road, hunger, thirst, the children have gotten sick, they have given us unconditional support,” said the Honduran migrant.
Food, personal hygiene items, clothing, all help is more than welcome in difficult times. Well, during the pandemic, donations have decreased, but the number of sheltered migrants has increased.
“Hopefully they can continue helping because we are a little bit in crisis right now,” Herrera said.
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TELEMUNDO 20 / Cinthya Gómez
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“It is a peace, it is a tranquility, it is a joy to be able to share with others what one has,” added Andrés Martínez.
And is that the wait for these migrants is indefinite because the vast majority of families in Pro Amore Dei are not part of the MPP program, so they have not yet started their immigration process to be able to request political asylum in the American Union.
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