As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement continues to drop off even more migrant families at local churches, a pastor is asking for help.
Pastor Magdalena Schwartz says she is in constant contact and collaboration with local ICE officials to help facilitate drop-off locations for hundreds of migrant families they cannot keep in custody. The issue now is that the number of migrant families dropped off at local churches continues to rise, but there aren’t enough donations and volunteers to keep up.
“We need more help! We need more churches to help us,” said Schwartz. She says currently there are close to 10 local churches that have opened up their doors.
Donations like food, clothing items and hygiene products are needed.
“Food, clothes, shoes, everything we need,” said Schwartz.
About 50 migrant families were transported to Monte Vista Baptist Church near 36th and Oak streets Tuesday morning after ICE left them at the Greyhound bus station.
Schwartz says they provide shelter to these traveling families for a couple days while they help get them a bus or airplane ticket to help them reunite with their family across the county until they have to appear in court.
Close to 100 families arrived at Nueva Esperanza church in Mesa Tuesday evening, and even more migrants are expected to be dropped off Wednesday morning.
If you would like to help or donate, you can stop by one of the local churches helping these migrant families:
Nueva Esperanza
1818 E Southern Ave.
Mesa, AZ 85204
Monte Vista Baptist Church
2409 N 36th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008
Magdalena Schwartz's office
116 N Lindsay Rd. Suite 3
Mesa, AZ 85213