In May 2019 our UU congregation began supporting the Deming NM shelter for asylum seekers on their way to sponsors. We were a collection site for our county. With those donations we packed food travel bags (GoBags) as well as sent clothing, medical supplies and food for the shelter. All of that ceased in fall 2019 when the border was “shut,” and the Remain in Mexico (MPP) was strictly enforced. The shelter for asylum seekers in Palomas, Tierra de Oro, held a relatively stable number of guests waiting and waiting and waiting… and we transferred our support to them.

In June 2020 Border Patrol started expelling dozens of Title 42 migrants (preventing anyone from entering the US due to COVID 19) daily and mostly at night into Palomas. These guests at the shelter may only stay 1 or 2 days but most are in dire need of food, sleep and first aid before they decide where to go next. And because of the pandemic they had to be kept separate from the asylum seekers. At our UU building we continue to have a biweekly collection of supplies for the shelter. These supplies are transported to Deming, NM and then sent across the border by officially sanctioned individuals.

In February 2021 we began to pack GoBags again for the migrants subject to Title 42. We pack at least 250 bags a week as well as continue to provide for the asylum seekers at Tierra de Oro in Palomas. The fire station in Palomas has also opened to T42 migrants. What we are able to do is dependent on donations from our wider community, both locally and nationally. As of early 2022, the Deming shelter has opened again for asylum seekers heading to sponsors in the US.

Our role will continue evolve as border policies evolve. You can read below the last three weekly posts with updated information on Palomas and Deming, as well as the current needs for the migrants and asylees. If you would like to personally receive these posts, contact Barbara Gabioud at bgabioud@gmail.com.

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. 

Note:  Driven by the hope for a better future, many migrants who are being expelled from the US will continue to try to re-enter, regardless of the dangers and hardships they face.

8/10/2022

A change in immigration policy actually happened this week, though exactly what it will look like on the ground is still to be seen. I’ll try to summarize it in a very simplistic fashion, bearing in mind that it is really much more complicated. 

A week ago Monday the Supreme Court gave the go ahead to the Biden administration to end the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) better known as Remain In Mexico. MPP was put into place by President Trump in January 2019…pre-COVID. It worked like this: when any non-citizen presented to Border Patrol requesting asylum on US soil, they were given a credible fear interview and if they met criteria they were given a court hearing date at which time they were required to appear in US immigration court to plead their case for more permanent refugee status. BUT they were no longer allowed to stay in the US to await their hearing…they had to "Remain in Mexico".

Then COVID hit and immigration courts shut down. Everyone in MPP was stuck in border migrant shelters and camps in Mexico with no end in sight. And in March 2020 Title 42 was implemented as an emergency health proclamation banning everyone from entering the US . Asylum seekers and all other migrants were immediately turned back from the border with no chance to even request asylum. So MPP was functionally dead but thousands were still waiting for their court hearings. 

On President Biden’s first day in office, he suspended MPP and initially many asylum seekers were allowed to enter the US to pursue their cases. But then as you know, MPP hit the courts and various judges required the administration to reinstate it. Two days ago the Department of Homeland Security, now with the blessing of the Supreme Court, announced that no new individuals would be subject to MPP and that those already in the system would be disenrolled after their first court date and allowed to pursue their cases within the United States. It is estimated that all MPP enrollees will be processed in 1-2 months.

Of course, Title 42 is still in place; and although in El Paso alone 40 migrants per day are allowed to enter as T42 exceptions, along with other ports of entry along the border, the majority of asylum seekers are still waiting for the opportunity to cross. I started out this email saying that a “major change” had occurred but revised my wording. Until Title 42 is eliminated most people seeking protection in the United States still have to suffer. Please don’t give up on them, please continue to donate, and please continue to pressure your government officials to open their hearts and our border.

OUR NEXT COLLECTION IS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 17th and STILL NO CLOTHING EXCEPT WOMENS AND MENS ATHLETIC SHOES, NEW UNDERWEAR in all sizes for MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SPORTS BRAS, SOCKS and 40” SHOELACES. RIGHT NOW LARGE SIZE MENS SHOES (10 AND OVER) ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

WE ARE ALSO RUNNING OUT OF PERSONAL COVID MASKS SO PLEASE PICK UP SOME FOR US!

Here is the comprehensive list of requests for Palomas and Deming with the most needed in RED (and they change weekly). 

Personal hygiene supplies: FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, RAZORS, DEODORANTS, BODY LOTION FOR DRY SKIN, VASELINE/LIP BALM, small SOAPS, SHAMPOO, TOOTHBRUSHES and TOOTHPASTES.

Baby supplies include: PEDIALYTE, DIAPERS, BABY WIPES, DIAPER CREAM, SMALL CANS OF SIMILAC or NIDO FORMULA, BABY BOTTLES.

We pack 500 GoBags of food each month that include: CRACKER PACKS, WELCH’S FRUIT SNACKS, 16 OZ BOTTLES OF WATER, GRANOLA/BREAKFAST BARS, and small cans of VIENNA SAUSAGES. We also need INDIVIDUAL PACKETS OF ELECTROLYTES (Propel from Amazon and Walmart). 

Other food items: RICE, BEANS and CUP-OF-NOODLES.

 Additional Supplies: BACKPACKS and DUFFEL BAGS for travel, and TOILET PAPER. 

We collect donations on the first and third Wednesdays of each month,3:00-3:30, at the UUFSC building, 3845 N Swan (not our mailing address) in Silver City. You can drive straight down on either side of our collection vehicles. We will get you unloaded and then you can drive out easily. If you are bringing any of the above GoBag items, please let the crew unloading your car know about them. If you would like to read my last 3 posts they are available on our UU website uufsc.com. It might give you ideas of other needed supplies. Click on the Palomas/Deming 2022 link on the left side of the page. Or you can dig deeper on our fellowship’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UUFSC all the way back to May 2019 when our project started.

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. Thank you everyone! ~Barbara

7/25/2022

So today’s email is going to stay local. First Border Partners, that wonderful cross border collaborative organization, linking Deming to Palomas. They are in need of a new vehicle for their General Manager to drive back and forth across the border. The one they have has developed issues that are too major to fix. If you have a car you no longer need, consider donating it and receiving a tax deduction. Let me know and I will put you in contact with them.

And now onto Colores United in Deming. They just took possession of a new building to replace their storage and program needs. As you can see below, there is lots of potential but it needs lots of major work. From Ariana "We are currently looking for volunteers to come help…from gardening to construction/plumbing.... and even some "paint by number" mural work!  Any day, all day! The concept of our space will be 'old rustic Mexico meets modern minimalism’. So, if you have any old leather chairs, ottomans in solid vibrant colors, hearty potted plants, hammocks, doors with their frames, (glass doors or solid wood will work) or old framed windows, we would love to have them. To volunteer, email Karen.coloresunited@gmail.com to sign up to come help.”      In the photos you can also see part of their “task board”. 

OUR NEXT COLLECTION IS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3rd and STILL NO CLOTHING EXCEPT WOMENS AND MENS ATHLETIC SHOES, NEW UNDERWEAR in all sizes for MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SPORTS BRAS, SOCKS and 40” SHOELACES. 

Here is the comprehensive list of requests for Palomas and Deming with the most needed in RED (and they change weekly). 

Personal hygiene supplies: FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, RAZORS, DEODORANTS, BODY LOTION FOR DRY SKIN, VASELINE/LIP BALM, small SOAPS, SHAMPOO, TOOTHBRUSHES and TOOTHPASTES.

Baby supplies include: DIAPERS, BABY WIPES, DIAPER CREAM, FORMULA ( SMALL CANS) SIMILAC or NIDO, BABY BOTTLES.

We pack 500 GoBags of food each month that include: CRACKER PACKS, WELCH’S FRUIT SNACKS, 16 OZ BOTTLES OF WATER, GRANOLA/BREAKFAST BARS, and small cans of VIENNA SAUSAGES. We also need INDIVIDUAL PACKETS OF ELECTROLYTES (Propel from Amazon and Walmart). 

Other food items: RICE, BEANS and CUP-OF-NOODLES.

 Additional Supplies: BACKPACKS and DUFFEL BAGS for travel, and TOILET PAPER. 

We collect donations on the first and third Wednesdays of each month,3:00-3:30, at the UUFSC building, 3845 N Swan (not our mailing address) in Silver City. You can drive straight down on either side of our collection vehicles. We will get you unloaded and then you can drive out easily. If you are bringing any of the above GoBag items, please let the crew unloading your car know about them. If you would like to read my last 3 posts they are available on our UU website uufsc.com. It might give you ideas of other needed supplies. Click on the Palomas/Deming 2022 link on the left side of the page. Or you can dig deeper on our fellowship’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UUFSC all the way back to May 2019 when our project started.

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. Thank you everyone! ~Barbara

7/13/2022

The biggest news this week is that we are not accepting any clothes for the next couple months, except as described below. You all have  been very generous this season and the store rooms are well stocked. I’m sure our local thrift shops would gladly accept your donations.  They all make wonderful contributions to our community.

Also, if you click on THIS YouTube link https://youtu.be/HZXq4wOeNfY you will see the very recent ABC Nightline report about Colores United’s Deming Shelter.

OUR NEXT COLLECTION IS WEDNESDAY JULY 20th.

Below is our ongoing comprehensive list of needs for both Palomas and Deming. The items that are currently most needed are in RED (and they change weekly). 

Medical needs: PEDIATRIC ELECTROLYTE PACKETS for kids, ALLERGY MEDS for adults and children, NASAL SALINE SPRAY or DROPS.

Personal hygiene supplies: FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS, RAZORS, DEODORANTS, BODY LOTION FOR DRY SKIN, VASELINE/LIP BALM, small SOAPS, SHAMPOO, TOOTHBRUSHES and TOOTHPASTES.

Baby supplies include: DIAPERS, BABY WIPES, DIAPER CREAM, FORMULA ( SMALL CANS) SIMILAC or NIDO, BABY BOTTLES.

The GoBags of food we pack include: CRACKER PACKS, WELCH’S FRUIT SNACKS, 16 OZ BOTTLES OF WATER, GRANOLA/BREAKFAST BARS, and small cans of VIENNA SAUSAGES. We also need INDIVIDUAL PACKETS OF ELECTROLYTES (Propel on Amazon and Walmart) which are becoming more important as the temperatures have risen so dramatically this year already.

REMEMBER NO CLOTHING AT THIS TIME EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING MENS ATHLETIC SHOES IN SIZES 8-9-10-11; NEW UNDERWEAR in all sizes for MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SPORTS BRAS and 40” SHOELACES. 

Additional Supplies: CUP-OF-NOODLES, BACKPACKS and DUFFEL BAGS for travel, and TOILET PAPER. 

We collect donations on the first and third Wednesdays of each month,3:00-3:30, at the UUFSC building, 3845 N Swan (not our mailing address) in Silver City. You can drive straight down on either side of our collection vehicles. We will get you unloaded and then you can drive out easily. If you are bringing any of the above GoBag items, please let the crew unloading your car know about them. If you would like to read my last 3 posts they are available on our UU website uufsc.com. It might give you ideas of other needed supplies. Click on the Palomas/Deming 2022 link on the left side of the page. Or you can dig deeper on our fellowship’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UUFSC all the way back to May 2019 when our project started.

The Colores United shelter in Deming for asylum seekers who have made it across the border receives about 150 people per week; and they could use more volunteers. They are looking for 2 volunteers/day for shifts either 10-2 or 2-6 at the hotel. You would assist with intakes, receiving guests, serving meals, etc. If you can make a one month commitment contact Karen Quevedo who is in charge of volunteers. For example, you could agree to take the 2-6 shift on Thursdays for 4 weeks. Her email is karen.coloresunited@gmail.com. Sign up with a friend and have lunch at Charlie Cat’s!

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. Thank you everyone! ~Barbara

 

(This is just a photo, click on the link up above!)  

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