Red Cross Aid to Asylum Seekers and Migrants at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Migrant children and families on the U.S.-Mexico border are facing uncertainty as they wait for their asylum claims to be processed.

Today, thousands of migrants are on the Mexican side of the border, where the Mexican Red Cross is providing aid and helping migrants speak with their loved ones back home. Many asylum seekers have been recently admitted to the U.S., where local organizations are working to safely house them as their cases make their way through the courts, which can be a lengthy process. It’s important to note that those at risk of being persecuted in their own country have the right to seek asylum under international law.

A Safe Place to Stay for Unaccompanied Children

In response to a recent surge of young people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border without parents or guardians, the American Red Cross was asked to provide temporary support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), to ensure these unaccompanied children had a safe, clean and comfortable place to stay after their difficult journeys north. This support has focused on helping to provide comfort in addition to meeting the basic needs of unaccompanied children in Midland and Dallas, Texas, until they can connect with a relative or sponsor in the United States. The Red Cross is proud to have been asked to serve in this capacity and thankful for the hundreds of volunteers who have answered the call to help.

Our temporary support is now moving into the next phase as FEMA and HHS create additional infrastructure and operations capacity. As this transition occurs, the Red Cross is fully committed to working with our government partners to help ensure appropriate humanitarian care is in place to support these vulnerable children.

At the request of FEMA and HHS, Red Cross sheltering support in Midland and Dallas is ending as new contracted care providers assume management of both sites. While we won’t have a physical presence at those locations by early April, we will continue to support the care of unaccompanied children on a smaller scale. As such, HHS has requested temporary Red Cross support in training and advising contracted staff at several new emergency intake sites including San Antonio and San Diego. Small teams of highly experienced Red Cross volunteers will be onsite at each new facility beginning this week.

Supporting Nonprofits at the U.S.-Mexico Border

In addition to providing support to our government partners, the Red Cross has provided relief supplies — such as cots, blankets, hygiene items, masks and hand sanitizer — for use by local nonprofits caring for migrants in Texas and California. The Red Cross has also provided phones to organizations in Texas and Arizona, which migrants can use to reconnect with family members back home to let them know they’re safe.

Humanitarian Commitment to Helping All People in Need

Red Cross and Red Crescent teams have long delivered humanitarian relief to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers around the world. The Red Cross is committed to delivering help to anyone in distress — regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or citizenship status — and to remain a neutral and impartial party, so we can access and help people when and where it is needed most.

The American Red Cross is guided by seven Fundamental Principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. As a humanitarian organization, these principles guide our actions every day, and compel us to alleviate human suffering in the U.S. and around the world. For more information about our work with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, please visit: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/how-does-the-american-red-cross-help-migrants.html.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.