Today and for the next couple of days in the Rio Grande Valley area, The National Weather Service issued a Wind Chill Advisory: “dangerously cold wind chills would result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.” The cold weather conditions are a real life threat to asylum seeking families. Both to those in outdoor encampments and those waiting at bridges in different ports of entry in the Rio Grande Valley.
Just last Thursday, I was at the Progreso port of entry bridge that was lined up with about 60 or so asylum seekers from Russia and Ukraine. I spoke to a young woman named Olivia* an asylum seeker from Russia who spoke some English. Olivia said she has been waiting for a CBP One appointment for 3 months in Mexico to no avail. She has been staying at the Progreso bridge for about 11 days now. She was grateful and impressed at how many kind people have shown up to provide them food and water. Olivia planned to stay at the Progreso bridge despite the cold weather because she does not want to lose her spot in line in hopes that immigration officials will soon process her asylum claim. (*Olivia is a fictitious name used to protect the identity of the asylum seeker)
The need for warm clothing, coats, and blankets is of the utmost importance right now. Asylum seekers on bridges at different ports of entry, such as the ones in Progreso, McAllen, and Brownsville are not prepared to endure cold harsh weather conditions. Some non profits in the area are doing all they can to provide heaters at some bridges, blankets, food, and other necessities. Please support them and/or share their donation links with your community members.
HOW TO ASSIST
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Team Brownsville provides warm clothing, coats, toiletries, food to asylum seeking families in both Brownsville and in Matamoros: Team Brownsville Amazon wish list
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***Please use this address for Team Brownsville at checkout:
1045 Mexico Blvd.
Brownsville, TX 78520
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Ship up to 70 lbs. of gently used coats/winter clothing to Team Brownsville using this $20 shipping label or donate to Team Brownsville
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The Sidewalk School purchases blankets, heaters, gas refills for the heaters at bridges where asylum seekers are staying etc. donate: The Sidewalk School
“But if the church will free itself from the shackles of a deadening status-quo, and, recovering its great historic mission, will proceed to speak and act fearlessly and insistently on the questions of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind. It will fire the souls of men and imbue them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice and peace. Men far and near will then see the church as that great fellowship of love which provides light and bread for lonely travelers at midnight.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
SOME SIGHTS OF ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM RUSSIA/UKRAINE AT THE PROGRESO PORT OF ENTRY BRIDGE. THEY ARE NOT EQUIPPED FOR EXTREME COLD WEATHER.
