Just the Beginning, by Sister Phyllis Tierney SSJ

Sister Martha, a Sister of Mercy from San Francisco, and I arrived at the same time. We are staying with the SSJs from Concordia who are providing hospitality for volunteers. Our orientation began the day we arrived with a quick tour of Nazareth, the temporary shelter provided by the Loretto Sisters in a wing of their nursing home which is no longer being used.

This shelter is extremely busy. ICE drops off people several times a day.

Last Monday, the shelter processed 125 people. Each one must be interviewed, assigned a bedroom, and have information recorded about their travel arrangements. Transportation volunteers must be contacted to arrange for times to pick up and transport to the bus or airport. Ability to speak Spanish is needed for these tasks.

Since I am not a fluent speaker, I work in the clothing room, help put out meals when no group provides one, check to make sure rooms are cleaned before people leave, etc.

I keep learning new things. The number arriving from Latin America has increased dramatically because the detention centers in Dilley and Karnes are filled to capacity and it is easier to bring people to El Paso where they will be released if they are asking for asylum. ICE processes those who enter and determines if they will send them to detention or give them an ankle bracelet for tracking and then release them to the shelter.

Ruben Garcia, Director of Annunciation House, manages four shelters that provide for different populations. He meets frequently with ICE to receive updates.

I am deeply impressed with the dedication of so many volunteers, especially young people who want to give their lives to this work. They are provided only with food and shelter and receive no monetary compensation of any kind. They only get one day off a week if there is enough coverage for them to take it. The people of El Paso are generous in giving, providing meals on a regular basis, driving, and giving donations.

Today is my day off. On Mondays, Ruben meets with volunteers and provides an hour of shared spiritual reflection followed by breakfast. The reflection was on Our Lady of Guadalupe and liberation theology for the poor!

This is a worthwhile experience!