Politics are left at the door at McAllen’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a border parish where hundreds of recently detained migrants, many fleeing violence in their countries, have been taken for temporary food and shelter after being ordered to appear in immigration court for deportation hearings. “All of that is irrelevant,” Ms. De Los Santos said of the political volleying. “For us, we just want to serve.” Until a few weeks ago, the migrants were simply dropped off at McAllen’s downtown bus station after being processed. Volunteers from the local diocese showed up with food and offered what they could, filling their cars with toiletries and clothing. Then the situation worsened. The number of immigrants flooding the bus station increased so much that the volunteers called Sister Norma Pimentel, the executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. “They said, ‘This is too much, this is not a location for them,’ ” said Brenda Riojas, the diocese’s public information officer. Still, a makeshift shelter quickly sprang to life. City and county officials helped with logistics and security and were updated regularly. The Salvation Army sent food. All took their cues from the Catholic Charities volunteers. Ofelia De Los Santos, a public information officer with Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, does not know how long Catholic Charities’ help will be needed. But she said the organization was prepared for the long haul. She also wonders how long the community support will continue. She has received hate mail, she said. “We get calls to the office with people saying, ‘What are you all doing? You’re encouraging them,’ ” she said. She is bothered less by those critics than by saying goodbye to the immigrants she has helped. As dozens left the church for the bus station, Ms. De Los Santos stood waving, tears streaming down her face. “I cry every time,” she said. -Julian Aguilar
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 19:44:28 +0000
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