At the IRC Welcome Center, our First Church team continues to volunteer each Saturday, welcoming asylum-seekers on their journey through Phoenix from the border to their sponsors throughout the country.

So far this year, 6,403 asylum-seekers have arrived at the Welcome Center, coming from 66 countries and speaking 44 different primary languages. The top 10 nationalities include India (1116), Peru (750), Dominican Republic (657), Mexico (654), Russia (360), Ecuador (323), Columbia (249), China (248), Brazil (221), and Guatemala (208). The most common languages spoken other than Spanish are Russian, Hindi, Punjabi, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Generally, about 500 people cross the border in the Yuma region each day and are processed for asylum; in the Tucson sector, about 1100 are accepted into the asylum process. Many more are “expelled” under the provisions of Title 42, which prevents people from entering the country because of COVID, deemed a national emergency.

However, with Title 42 scheduled to end on May 11, numbers of arrivals could increase dramatically. More volunteers will be needed and additional donations of clothing items and shoes will be critical. We will update you as we hear more.

Right now, Casa Alitas, the humanitarian shelter in Tucson, is only able to accept 500 migrants a day, so it continues to send about two buses each day to the Welcome Center in Phoenix. The buses often arrive in the early afternoon, and that means that it’s important for us to schedule volunteers on Saturdays who are able to help mid-afternoon through the early evening.

We are also looking for a few volunteers who might be able to help on the weekends at a Phoenix church that also hosts asylum seekers. If you are interested in more information on how you might volunteer at either the Welcome Center or Helping With All My Heart, contact Jane McNamara, Chair of our Immigration Task Force, at janehmcnamara@gmail.com