Children play near the border wall in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Nov. 7. Photo: CNS As the United States took in almost 19,000 migrant children, labelled “unaccompanied minors”, in March, faith-based organisations such as Catholic Charities throughout the country have been doing their part to help.
In Texas, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio set up over 2,000 cots for their guests at the Freeman Coliseum to “welcome and care for unaccompanied migrant children”, the organisation said March 30 on its website.
Staff as well as volunteers from local churches have assembled hygiene kits of toothpaste and soap to give to minors who have been allowed into the country at its southern border with Mexico and are waiting to be reunited with family or who will soon go live with sponsors.
“It is a privilege to serve the community and an honour to help as much as we can these children who have been separated from their parents for some time, especially in a country that is not their own,” said Antonio Fernandez, president and CEO of San Antonio’s Catholic Charities.
“While I understand that this could be considered a political issue for many, it is strictly a humanitarian one to us at Catholic Charities,” he said.
Both political parties have sought the help of the Catholic Church, mostly because of its vast network of humanitarian agencies.