ARIZONA NEWS

Mesa church helps migrants released by immigration officials

Apr 12, 2022, 4:45 AM

(Facebook Photo/Iglesia Cristiana el Buen Pastor)...

(Facebook Photo/Iglesia Cristiana el Buen Pastor)

(Facebook Photo/Iglesia Cristiana el Buen Pastor)

PHOENIX — A church in Mesa is once again welcoming migrants released by immigration officials.

Iglesias Cristiana El Buen Pastor, which in English means the Good Pastor Christian Church, has been receiving about 50 migrants per week over the past two months.

Hector Ramirez is the pastor of the church located near Alma School and Broadway roads. He said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials drop off the migrants in buses after they’re released from custody.

Many of them are parents with young children who are seeking asylum in the United States.

“We welcome every single person,” Ramirez told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “They come from various nationalities. This past week, we had people arrive from India, Cuba, Colombia and Venezuela.”

Volunteers at the church provide the migrants food, clothes, toiletries and a place to stay until loved ones in other states can pay for plane and bus tickets. During their stay, the migrants also have access to legal counsel and a medical team who can provide COVID-19 vaccines and testing.

Ramirez emphasized his church is doing everything it can “to make sure they feel fine.”

“They’ve gone through a lot to get here,” he said. “Some spent three to four days in immigration detention centers, in addition to the time they had to wait on the Mexican side of the border. So many of them come here suffering.”

Ramirez said those with young children “arrive here traumatized to see the suffering their kids have gone through.” He said some were briefly separated inside detention centers, causing “serious psychological trauma” for both the parents and kids.

This is not the first time the church has helped migrants. It started doing so in 2019.

Ramirez said ICE stopped dropping off migrants when Title 42 went into effect under the Trump administration. The policy forced migrants to wait in Mexico while their asylum claims were pending as a way to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The church started receiving migrants again about two months ago. Ramirez said he expects they’ll start to get even more when Title 42 is lifted on May 23.

“We will continue to keep the doors of our church open for as long as we can,” he said, adding the church needs donations and volunteers.

Anyone interested in helping can contact the church.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Rendering of Verrado Marketplace, which will total 500,000 square feet with a host of retailers, re...

Audrey Jensen/Phoenix Business Journal

Target among major tenants announced for Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye

Target, Safeway and a Harkins BackLot entertainment complex will be the anchor tenants for the planned Verrado Marketplace in Buckeye.

16 minutes ago

(AP File Photo)...

KTAR.com

Northbound lanes on Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City reopen after crash

A crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 near Black Canyon City. ADOT advised motorists to seek an alternate route.

12 hours ago

mugshot of Street after he turned himself in at the Casa Grande facility and image of teenage Haile...

KTAR.com

2 more people arrested in connection to Casa Grande teen’s death

Two more people, both juveniles, have been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a teenage girl on Nov. 26. 

13 hours ago

Police said that the teen admitted to detectives that he sent the bomb threat message. (Facebook Ph...

KTAR.com

Casa Grande teen arrested for allegedly sending bomb threat to Ottawa University in Surprise

A 17-year-old from Casa Grande was arrested Thursday after allegedly sending a bomb threat to Ottawa University's Arizona campus in Surprise.

15 hours ago

A man was taken into custody early Friday morning after threatening a rideshare driver with a gun. ...

KTAR.com

Ride-share customer arrested after allegedly pulling gun on driver in Glendale

A ride-share customer was arrested after allegedly pulling gun on a driver early Friday morning, according to Glendale police. 

15 hours ago

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering up to a $1,500 reward for information lea...

KTAR.com

Ohio police searching for Goodyear man wanted in murder case

Authorities are searching for a Goodyear man who allegedly drove to Ohio to kill a woman last month. He is wanted for aggravated murder. 

18 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Desert Institute for Spine Care

Desert Institute for Spine Care (DISC) wants to help Valley residents address back, neck issues through awake spine surgery

As the weather begins to change, those with back issues can no longer rely on the dry heat to aid their backs. That's where DISC comes in.

...

SCHWARTZ LASER EYE CENTER

Key dates for Arizona sports fans to look forward to this fall

Fall brings new beginnings in different ways for Arizona’s professional sports teams like the Cardinals and Coyotes.

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

Mesa church helps migrants released by immigration officials