Planes full of women and children migrants have recently
touched down in Arizona, their passengers released to Greyhound bus stations in Tucson
and Phoenix in order to cope with the large numbers of incoming migrants in
Texas. Casa Mariposa, one of Iskashitaa's partner organizations in Tucson, has been helping the arriving parents and children navigate the Greyhound bus system and has given them donations to ease their transition. These families have relatives elsewhere in the United States. They are sent from Tucson to various destinations around the country in order to unite with these relatives, and Casa Mariposa is helping to facilitate this process with tips on purchasing bus tickets and taking the Greyhound. Before leaving Tucson, the families are given a bag of food, as well as any diapers, clothes, or simple medication that is needed. They are then required to meet with ICE in their destination location two weeks after their arrival.
Casa Mariposa appreciates Iskashitaa's work and uses the fresh produce they receive from us for the hot meals they serve every night to these families. Grapefruit and oranges that come from Iskashitaa are also often included in the food bags the families receive.
Though Casa Mariposa is dealing primarily with these families, it's important to note that the amount of unaccompanied minors, mostly from Central America, has grown exponentially in the past six years – this year, the government estimates that 60,000 children could be caught trying to cross the border. The demographics of these minors have changed as well: there are now more girls and more children under the age of thirteen. These young immigrants attempt to cross in order to escape crime and poverty, and often to reunite with relatives already in the United States. President Obama asked Congress for $1.4 billion last week in extra funding in order to house, feed, and transport the surge of children, and appointed Craig Fugate, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to handle the situation. This increase is a growing logistical problem for the U.S. government.
Casa Mariposa appreciates Iskashitaa's work and uses the fresh produce they receive from us for the hot meals they serve every night to these families. Grapefruit and oranges that come from Iskashitaa are also often included in the food bags the families receive.
Though Casa Mariposa is dealing primarily with these families, it's important to note that the amount of unaccompanied minors, mostly from Central America, has grown exponentially in the past six years – this year, the government estimates that 60,000 children could be caught trying to cross the border. The demographics of these minors have changed as well: there are now more girls and more children under the age of thirteen. These young immigrants attempt to cross in order to escape crime and poverty, and often to reunite with relatives already in the United States. President Obama asked Congress for $1.4 billion last week in extra funding in order to house, feed, and transport the surge of children, and appointed Craig Fugate, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to handle the situation. This increase is a growing logistical problem for the U.S. government.
Link to article: http://azstarnet.com/ap/washington/obama-child-migrants-urgent-humanitarian-issue/article_cf5dd489-e4ed-5a39-b45f-0c84523d37bd.html
Gina Gresham
PR Intern
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