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Palomas 2020/2021/2022 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. 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.
9/28/2022 First a story and
then a celebration…We were on a trip in the midwest recently and I heard this
story from a friend.
Here is the
comprehensive list of requests for Palomas and Deming with the most needed in RED (and they can change weekly).   
9/15/2022 Today,
once again, a few shout outs! First, to Max, who works 24/7 at the fire
station
in Palomas, and who celebrated a birthday earlier this week. Next, to
the
airport security office in El Paso who is providing us with much needed
face
masks for our GoBags. Then, to the great facelift that Colores United
is giving
their new Centro in Deming (no longer screamin’ green). And lastly, to
a donor
who answered our call for a car donation to Border Partners; the title
transfer
has already happened. And
now the rest of the story… The big immigration story this week, that
I’m
sure you’re seeing in the news, is the huge Venezuelan influx of asylum
seekers
who have no resources or sponsors in this country, who are crossing
from Juarez
into El Paso. Organized crime in that country have pushed the myth that
all
they have to do is get to our border (after paying transport fees to
the
cartel) and all will be provided for them by the US government. Venezuelans are not subject
to Title 42
(Covid) expulsion. All local shelters are above capacity
as well as
Border Patrol and ICE. We have reached a tipping point. And as you
know, the
federal budget only runs to the end of September and FEMA funding is
running
out. If Border Patrol starts releasing asylum seekers into Las Cruces
or other
NM cities, as it did in 2019, it could trigger an emergency at the
state
level. Currently, most asylum seekers are voluntarily
traveling to New York City, Chicago and DC via bus. Both the City of El
Paso
and the above named cities are coordinating and managing this transport
in as
efficient and practical manner as possible. In fact, I
happened to be in
Chicago and saw the coverage last week as the first buses arrived
there. The
mayor, Lori Lightfoot, welcomed them and offered assistance in
conjunction with
local NGO organizations. The first buses from the
border were sent
without warning by Texas governor Greg Abbott, who sent them as
“ammunition”
aimed at sanctuary cities. Illinois’ Governor Pritzker reached out to
Governor
Abbott but says he has been wholly uncooperative. In fact, the state of
Texas
has been using state tax monies at approximately $1700 per person to a
select
bus company compared to alternatives such as Greyhound, for $150-350. I
wonder
who’s pocketing the profits… (I didn’t say that) The upside is that a much stronger
network of
shelters and organization is solidifying across the country. More
receiving
cities are also being considered so stay tuned in your area. OUR
NEXT COLLECTION IS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST 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 can change weekly). For
our now 800 per month GoBag items, if you are out of our area and can
order
from Amazon, Costco, Walmart or other outlets, they can deliver
directly to us.
Email me for
a delivery address…it’s not our
mailing address. GoBags
include: CRACKER PACKS, WELCH’S FRUIT
SNACKS, 16 OZ BOTTLES OF
WATER, GRANOLA/BREAKFAST BARS,
CRACKER PACKS, and small cans of VIENNA
SAUSAGES. We
also need INDIVIDUAL PACKETS OF ELECTROLYTES and
GALLON SIZE
ZIPLOCK STORAGE BAGS. 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. LARGE
SIZE MENS SHOES (10 AND OVER)
ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY. 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, 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 htt   
8/27/2022 First
an important detail! Since there are 5 Wednesdays in August, the next
collection isn’t until September 7th. And
since my last email was a little heavy on political maneuvering around
Title 42
and MPP (Remain in Mexico), I’ll keep it simpler today. Because
of your generous donations we are funding a new small bathroom in the
Palomas
fire station (see the supplies below) as well as a few bunk beds to
expand
their capacity. And starting in September we will be increasing the
number of
GoBags we send to Grupo Beta from 500 to 800 per month. It’s thanks to you that
this is happening. Obviously
this speaks to the reality that migration and asylum seeking is not
over.
Migrants’ home countries are rife with violence that I know you have
been seeing
and reading about, as well as the devastating effects of climate change
that
we’re experiencing all over our country as well. Currently the Colores
United
shelter in Deming is receiving 200 guests every week and helping them
reach
their sponsors elsewhere in the US. Some, like Sergio from Venezuela
(see
photo), have pitched in to help with the transformation of Colores’s
new
center. And
for a reality check… I know most of us in Grant County were thrilled
with the
2+ inches of rain we received last weekend but in Palomas our wonderful
border
wall created havoc. A friend visiting there last week reported that “due
to the slope of land from Deming through Columbus
to the Border, and due to the HUGE amount of rain they have had, .....
the wall
is stopping the natural flow of water where once there was no
wall. (I'm
sure due to debris piling up at the base, and impeding the natural
flow.) As a
result, when there IS a gap for the water to go through or under the
wall, the
water simply POURS into Palomas at these concentrated points.
To date
several businesses and homes have been severely flooded. Just
one more
reason to acknowledge that this wall is totally absurd!” On
to what else is still needed ….
Especially
for our now 800 per month GoBag items, if you can order from Amazon,
Costco,
Walmart or other outlets, they can deliver directly to us. Someone
asked if
that was possible AND IT IS! Email me for a
delivery address. Here
is the comprehensive list of requests for Palomas and Deming
with the most needed in RED
(and they change weekly). GoBags
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, and FACE MASKS. 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. 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. 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.  
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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Silver City - 2012
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