Gypsy Jan - 12-18-2009 at 04:00 PM
December 18, 2009
Mexicali News
Migrant Support Work Continues
Like they have for more than two decades, the staff members of the Good
Samaritan kitchen give aid and comfort to deported migrants stuck on the
Mexico-US border. Located in the Baja California state capital of
Mexicali, the kitchen is a project of the social ministry of the San Juan
Obrero Catholic church.
“We help migrants that need it,” said staff worker Ramona Hernandez. “Many
times they are deported and left with nothing, not even money or
belongings.”
Every day, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the kitchen serves an average
clientele of 90 migrants a meal of tacos, tortas, beans, rice, and soup.
Apart from offering a square meal, the kitchen also supplies bottled
water, clothing, soap and tooth paste.
In Mexicali, the Roman Catholic Church begins offering material aid to
migrants at a booth set up at the central border crossing from the United
States. The migrant attention office also maintains a computer, a fax
machine and a telephone so migrants can communicate with family members.
“Sometimes we serve as a liaison for (migrants),” said center head
Ernestina Lopez, “because occasionally when communicating with family
members they will have lost their identification and can’t collect money
for lack of ID.”
According to Lopez, a growing problem encountered by migrant advocates is
attending families which have been split up and deported at different
border crossings.
On the eve of International Migrants Day, December 18, the church’s social
ministry initiative with deported migrants was due to receive a financial
boost from a benefit fundraiser organized by local media and scheduled for
Mexicali’s State Theater.
Source: La Voz de la Frontera, December 17, 2009.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University Las Cruces,New Mexico
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