Family Unity Local Help at the Border

The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy has set off a humanitarian crisis along the U.S./Mexico border, unjustly separated over 3,000 children from their parents. In their response to criticism from across the political spectrum, the administration has moved toward the indefinite detention of families as the “solution.” This is not only immoral, it is also illegal under U.S. and international law.

La Union del Pueblo Entero, LUPE is among several local non-profits on the ground in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas helping with this imminent crisis. The Rio Grande Valley needs your help!

Here are a few ways you can get involved:

Donate!

Donate to an organization on the ground working with immigrant families year round. Contribute to LUPE HERE!

Vote!

We must change the oppressive of immigrants in a systematic way, go out and vote! Register to vote at any of our LUPE offices! You have until October 5th to turn in your voter registration card.

Join Other Events!

Vigil for Families Separated at the Border

Follow our LUPE facebook to learn about upcoming events!

Here are other ways to get involved:

Volunteer:

Angry Tías and Abuelas of the Rio Grande Valley

• Volunteers needed to deliver food, water, and other necessities at the border for those waiting for asylum.
• Volunteers needed to give out emergency backpacks and gift cards to families and individuals who are often penniless after their release from local detention centers.
• Volunteers needed to distribute leaflets with information about organizations and attorneys providing pro-bono legal services in the areas families and individuals are traveling in.
• Especially needed are people fluent in Spanish

Contact Madeleine Sandefur at madi.s44@att.net who assists in arranging transport and parental support with Cindy Candia at cindyzcandia@yahoo.com.

Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) ⏐ Alamo, TX

• • Volunteers are needed to lead intake efforts in Brownsville, Laredo, El Paso, and Alpine, Texas. TCRP can help you with training and capacity to organize legal intake in these cities.
  • Volunteers are needed to travel to McAllen, Texas to help interview families.
  • Volunteers must be fluent in Spanish, Mam, Q’eqchi’ or K’iche’ and have paralegal or legal assistant experience.
  • TCRP cannot cover costs related to travel or lodging for volunteers.

• Sign up here

Sacred Heart Catholic Church | 1598 Dallas Ave McAllen, TX

• Donate items at Immigrant Relief & Welcome Center
  • Toiletries for men and women (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, etc)
  • Shoes (sandals, tennis shoes, loafers, etc) for men, women, children and infants of all sizes
  • Clothes (pants, t-shirts, blouses, under clothing, etc) for children and adults of all sizes
  • Baby supplies for toddlers (Pampers, baby wipes, baby bottles, etc.)
  • Sealed snack food (granola bars, chips, peanut butter & cheese crackers, etc)
  • Gift cards to purchase food items
  • Phone cards
  • Drawstring knapsacks for sandwiches, snacks and water
  • Rosaries

• Sign up here

South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) ⏐ 222 E. Van Buren Avenue Suite 300 Harlingen, TX

• There are a number of ways in which interested attorneys, law students, recent law graduates, legal assistants, and interpreters may participate:

1. Long-term attorney volunteers stay in South Texas for a period of two weeks, a month, or longer, and handle a number of cases in immigration court. Living and travel stipends may be available to qualified persons;
2. Short-term attorney volunteers are assigned one or more asylum cases in advance and travel to South Texas to represent detained asylum seekers at their immigration court hearings;
3. Law students, recent law school graduates, legal assistants, and interpreters, under attorney supervision, help complete applications, develop supporting documentation and legal memoranda, and prepare applicants to testify at their hearings. Proficiency in the Spanish language is preferred, but not required;
4. Volunteer attorneys outside of South Texas represent on appeal applicants denied asylum in the immigration courts, or assist persons applying for asylum in their own communities; and
5. Experienced immigration attorneys present training seminars and serve as attorney mentors to ProBAR volunteers.

• Sign up here

Neta | McAllen, TX

• • Neta is coordinating with local volunteers who have been taking supplies to the asylum seekers daily.
  • Volunteers who can do one or more of the following are needed:
  1. Are able to travel to the ports of entry to distribute supplies to the asylum seekers. You must have a passport or appropriate documents to show at ports of entry. (NETA purchases the supplies, so you only need to distribute, not purchase)
  2. Are able to travel to one or more ports of entry to verify if there are any asylum seekers in need of supplies. You must have a passport or appropriate documents to show at ports of entry.
  3. Are able to go to stores to purchase supplies based on what their most urgent needs are (NETA will provide you a list of supplies to purchase and the funds to purchase the supplies)

• Sign up here