Border Migration Response
Val Verde County Humanitarian Border Coalition in Del Rio, TX
A local coalition of citizens and agencies in the Del Rio area to provide refugees with support and access to resources they need to reach their final destination in the United States. Their goal is “to develop an efficient way to transition refugees to their destinations up to release of federal custody through a unified and coordinated effort.”
Mission: Border Hope in Eagle Pass, TX
“Mission: Border Hope is a non-profit service mission rooted in the United Methodist Church mission of making and multiplying disciples of Jesus Christ that transform the world. With our mission, we want to reach more people, more diverse people, and more- younger people that seek to find the living Christ through mission to the poor.” The agency that started from FUMC Eagle Pass focuses on migrants and residents passing through Maverick County and the surrounding border with these foci:
Domestic violence victims and their children, many of whom are non-violent juvenile offenders
The homeless and those with homes in need of repair
Those who need food and clothing,
People that need help learning to read and write.
Disaster Relief Survivors.
Holding Institute Community Center in Laredo, TX
Holding Institute Community Center is a national mission institute in a covenant relationship with United Methodist Women founded in 1880. A missionary named Nannie Emory Holding was sent to Laredo to find a mission with a specific focus on children and families of color not allowed in a regular school environment. Job training, job placement, emergency food assistance (1000+ households every month and 1500 hot meals a day), counseling services, and medication assistance all takes place at Holding Institute in Laredo. There are over 250 migrants seeking asylum crossing from Nuevo Laredo daily that walk through Holding Institute.
Good Neighbor Settlement House in Brownsville, TX
Established in 1953 by FUMC Brownsville, Good Neighbor Settlement House is a “multi-service agency dedicated to assisting the needy men, women, and children of Brownsville, TX through programs that provide nutritious meals, clothing, showers, and support services.” A soup kitchen, respite program, client services, Mesa Llena Food Bank, Hygiene program, office resources (mail, phone, copy, translation services), and free medical consultations are just some of the client services offered. Their motto is “helping people help themselves.”
La Posada Providencia in San Benito, TX
Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Providence, La Posada Providencia aims to welcome the stranger as a 24/7 emergency shelter for men, women, and migrant families as they escape to the U.S. due to political oppression, natural disaster, or other life-threatening conditions. They promote the migrants’ successful integration into the United States. Case management and needs assessment take place at La Posada Providencia before referrals and transportation to off-site agencies. Employment readiness, language instruction, and life-skills education for migrants also take place at the shelter.
Methodist Border Friendship Commission
The Methodist Border Friendship Commission is a ministry of the El Valle District UMC and the Rio Texas Conference UMC. The Commission has been serving since 1999. Over the years, the Commission has formed strong relationships with churches, pastors and variety of partnering agencies and ministries serving immigrants and refugees in the border area of the Rio Texas Conference and the Eastern Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico and beyond.
The Commission has formed a working Committee to be given the responsibility to use designated funds as needed and serve as our link to the United Methodist response to immigration and refugee programs and ministries of these areas.
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) is a faith-based movement meeting the changing needs of asylum seekers, refugees and at-risk immigrants in collaboration with others. This group of faith networks and individuals help migrants from across the world navigate the immigration process; especially those released from detention centers in Texas. San Antonio volunteers dedicate two-hour shifts at the bus station or the airport to help migrants reach their next destination or simply to find shelter.