Global Courant
On a side street about five minutes from the US border, a two-story building rises on an empty, dusty lot in Mexicali, Mexico, where families fleeing persecution and violence arrive, waiting and hoping to be accepted as refugees in America.
Refugee shelter Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
Families from Mexico and Central and South America walk into Cobina Posada Del Migrante with little more than their clothes on their backs and a dream to live in prosperity and peace in America. The shelter, which only accepts families, can house about 250 people, according to the shelter’s director, Elizabeth Gallardo, “but we’ve had up to 500 people at a time,” she said in Spanish.
“This is a safe shelter,” she added, where no single men are allowed.
Refugee fathers pray during Father’s Day celebrations at Cobina Posada Del Migrante shelter in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
The number of residents could range from 100 to 400 per month, depending on how quickly their refugee applications are processed, Gallardo said. Families receive free room and board.
Rooms can accommodate four to six people. Women and children stay in the downstairs rooms and fathers or partners stay in rooms on the second floor of the building. As long as the building is an inner garden, where events take place and children play.
Because the need for contributions is great, two groups – SoCal Immigration Task Force and Border Compassion – came together to bring supplies and gifts to the migrants for Father’s Day.
Refugee fathers were given shoes, clothes and toiletries during Father’s Day celebrations held June 24 at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
Isaac Cuevas, director of immigration and public affairs for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, said the SoCal Immigration Task Force is made up of representatives from the dioceses of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and San Bernardino. The task force contacted Sister Suzanne Jabro, founder of Border Compassion, who organizes visits to the shelter.
Suzanne Jabro, sister of Border Compassion, left, greets Alejandro Iraldo Velazquez, of Colombia, at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter’s Father’s Day celebration in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
“She invited us to join. When we learned that the men were not celebrated on Father’s Day, it was a perfect time for us to lead that effort as a group,” said Cuevas. He added that celebrations for other holidays, such as Children’s Day or Mother’s Day, are common at the shelter, but not for Father’s Day.
The group traveled to the border from all over Southern California and gathered in Calexico. There they took a short taxi ride to the border crossing, where they walked across with suitcases full of donations. Across the border, in Mexicali, they boarded taxis again for the short five-minute ride to the shelter.
House of Ruth staff and advisers from Camp Mariastella, part of the SoCal Immigration Task Force, prepare to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico, California, with clothing and toiletries to donate during a Father’s Day event event at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
The items brought to the shelter included new men’s underwear and socks, baseball caps, and personal hygiene products such as shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, and toothpaste.
Refugee fathers were given clothes and toiletries during the Father’s Day celebration, held June 24 at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
The group also brought supplies for the shelter’s children, such as water toys, coloring books, crayons, watercolors and chalk, Cuevas said.
Long tables were set up where the fathers selected shirts, pants, shoes, socks and underwear. They also got toiletries.
Refugee fathers received clothes and toiletries during the Father’s Day celebration at Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicali, Mexico, on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
Eric Palacios, 36, from El Salvador, was grateful for the gifts and money.
“It will come in handy,” he said.
Another resident of a temporary shelter, Dario Rivera, 44, from Colombia, was happy to receive clothing. “We must have these things and we are grateful to the group.”
Refugee fathers like Dario Rivera, 44, from Colombia, received clothes and toiletries at the Father’s Day celebration held June 24 at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
In their second year of helping with donations, Cuevas said, the group collected items through an Amazon wish list, along with monetary donations.
Some members of the SoCal Immigration Task Force prepare to cross the US-Mexico border in Calexico, California, on June 24 with clothes and toiletries to donate at a Father’s Day event at the Cobina Posada Del Migrante refugee shelter in Mexicana, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
“Border Compassion is in its first full year,” says Sister Suzanne. “We started in November 2021. We will not be going in July, August and September due to extreme heat, but we will provide a food budget, pay an ESL teacher for three hours a day five days a week, an allowance for a Statistical and financial support and needs all year round, including the summer months.”
The day’s events began with introductions and a prayer. Each father received a special gift: a new $60 wallet. After the formalities, everyone was treated to hot dogs, drinks and ice cream. Children played games and crafts. After lunch, some parents played water balloon throwing with the children.
Refugee Abdiel Esau Cohello Gonzalez, 28, from Honduras, finds cash in a new wallet given to each father for Father’s Day at Cobina Posada Del Migrante on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
“I’m very grateful for the support,” Gallardo said. “The migrants are always very happy with the things the groups bring, but above all they are very happy with the volunteers and the attention they give.”
Father Jay Cunnane blesses Eric Palacios at a Father’s Day celebration on June 24 at Cobina Posada Del Migrante in Mexicali, Mexico.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
Cuevas, who brought his wife and two children, said he included his family in this charity outing because, “As a family rooted in our faith, we understand that charity is part of who we are as a unit.”
“We are also a family with immigrant roots who want to support migrants and refugees in any way we can,” he added. “As an archdiocesan group, we are grateful Archbishop Jose Gomezof Los Angeles “for his continued support of our efforts and for his continued advocacy of immigration reform.”
Los Angeles Archdiocese Director of Immigration and Public Affairs, Isaac Cuevas, presented the fun and games for Father’s Day at Cobina Posada Del Migrante on June 24.
(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times and Spanish)
