As part of our UU Social Justice work we have chosen to support the migrant shelter, Tierra del Oro, in Palomas, Mexico, less than 2 hours south of Silver City. What started as a small shelter for asylum seekers waiting to head north, has become a transit stop that ICE and the Border Patrol use to expel 100+ detainees every night. These guests at the shelter may only stay 2-3 days but most are in dire need of food, sleep and first aid before they decide where to go next. At our UU building we have a weekly collection of supplies for the shelter every Wednesday afternoon. These supplies are transported to Deming, NM and then sent across the border by officially sanctioned individuals. You can read below the last three weekly posts with updated information on the shelter as well as the current needs for the migrants. If you would like to personally receive these posts, or volunteer to help with the collections or driving to Deming, contact Barbara Gabioud at bgabioud@gmail.com.

 

9/13/2020

 Additional note to our UU listserv: If you would like to help us on a collection Wednesday or be a driver to Deming, please let me know.  The generosity of our community will warm your heart. 

 This week’s info from me will be short because I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU to read the attached article.  It is specifically about the Palomas shelter and has lots of answers to questions we’ve all been asking.

 The cold weather snap we experienced this past week is making us think about fall/winter weather. Likewise, the shelter is thinking ahead.  For now, clean blankets are requested. Other needs include trash bags, toilet paper, deodorants, Clorox wipes, black beans, first aid supplies and shoelaces. And of course, if you have gathered supplies based on previous weeks’ asks, bring them along!

 Bring your donations on Wednesdays, 3:00-3:30, to the UUFSC building, 3845 N Swan (not our mailing address) in Silver City.  You will be directed to drive straight down on either side of our delivery vehicles. We will help you unload and then you can drive out easily. If you need to speak with anyone, look for one of us with our UU name tags on. The WE BELIEVE signs will be available also. Please wear a mask.

 To contribute financially you can mail checks made out to UUFSC (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City) with Border in the memo line to UUFSC, PO Box 4034, Silver City, NM 88062. With gratitude ~Barbara

 https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/immigration/border-towns-struggle-with-the-thousands-of-migrants-immediately-deported-under-cdc-order/

9/6/2020

The Palomas shelter is now accommodating 70-100 guests per night; Friday was 110. Just like COVID cases, the numbers keep rising. New border apprehension statistics were just released by CBP. Crossings/apprehensions dropped very low in April (about 17,000) as the border and many countries shut down due to the virus. But apprehensions/expulsions have steadily risen and hit a high in August of about 49,000! 

 This week's food needs include: Coffee makers or electric tea kettles for quickly heating water for soup. RAMEN or CUP OF NOODLES (any brand that just needs hot water added to the styrofoam cup), spoons, paper plates and cups.

 Safety and First Aid needs include: Masks, Clorox wipes, Tylenol/ibuprofen, antiseptic wipes, calamine lotion/Benadryl, plastic non-latex gloves and alcohol wipes.

 And, of course, Shoelaces, shoelaces, shoelaces…

 You may notice our “ask” items vary each week. It doesn’t mean that earlier food items we requested are not needed, just that they are in better supply. So if you have them they are still important (just no perishables).

 With financial donations in August we once again were able to support People Helping People, Colores United, Seguimos Adelante, Rio Grande Border Ministries, Border Servant Corps, and Kino Border Initiatives. Check their websites to appreciate the good work they are all doing.

 Bring your donations on Wednesdays, 3:00-3:30, to the UUFSC building, 3845 N Swan (not our mailing address) in Silver City.  You will be directed to drive straight down on either side of our delivery vehicles. We will help you unload and then you can drive out easily. If you need to speak with anyone, look for one of us with our UU name tags on. The WE BELIEVE signs will be available also. Please wear a mask.

 To contribute financially you can mail checks made out to UUFSC (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City) with Border in the memo line to UUFSC, PO Box 4034, Silver City, NM 88062. With gratitude  Barbara

 
8/30/2020

  First, here’s some more good news about your aid for the Palomas Tierra de Oro shelter. We now have two people who are using our monetary contributions to buy much of the needed food staples, perishables, and other supplies in Palomas which lets us support the town of Palomas. That also means less that has to cross the border; and they are able to gauge the specific needs so that our requests to you each week can be those items most needed and best bought in this country. Soooo...here’s this week’s list. First aid supplies: disinfectant wipes, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, band aids, ace wraps, antibiotic ointment and hydrogen peroxide. Cooking needs: a PRESSURE COOKER, disposable plates, cups and spoons/forks. The cups are needed because Juan was able to replace the plumbing and filter for the kitchen sink to provide safe drinking water. No longer do we need to supply water in plastic bottles!

 Unfortunately, we learned that the Border Patrol is still confiscating shoelaces, even though the migrants are being almost immediately expelled back into Mexico (see the photo below from the Palomas shelter). This, of course, means we need a supply of SHOELACES!

 Keep in mind that a change in administrations could help alleviate this and other humiliating and de-humanizing border practices. ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?

If you have supplies to bring that we have previously requested, we are still gratefully accepting all of them (but please, no perishables).  In fact, the extra linens will be used by the artisans cooperative in Palomas to make masks! 

  I hope some of you are watching the Netflix series Immigration Nation.  I just watched the third episode and learned a lot about the 287g agreements between county sheriffs and ICE, as well as our policy of deporting veterans.