On Monday morning, a second bus of asylum seekers arrived in Philadelphia from Texas. The city reported that 46 asylum seekers traveled to Philadelphia and upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 29 of them were transported to the city’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street.
Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and have been fully screened by Customs and Border Patrol.
“We proudly welcomed and successfully assisted asylum seekers last week and we continue to do so as needed,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “These individuals are looking for a brighter and more hopeful life in America and so it is our obligation and moral duty to welcome them.
“I also want to acknowledge and give thanks to the hard and generous work of our city agencies and community partners who are not only spearheading this operation, but who have demonstrated great commitment to providing housing, food, medical care, and other essential resources and services to individuals and families.”
Upon arrival, individuals were greeted by nonprofit partners and local hospitals who are helping provide medical attention, shelter, food and water, legal and social services, as well as language interpretation. City officials will continue to work with community partners to arrange for medical triage and follow-up for any new arrivals in need of medical care.
Information on how people can help is available online. The Philadelphia Welcoming Fund allows residents to contribute to local efforts to welcome immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Philadelphia. The funds collected will be provided to nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia area that are supporting new arrivals.
Additionally, in the Philadelphia region, Nationalities Services Center and HIAS Pennsylvania are among the nonprofit organizations offering immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Other local immigrant-serving organizations that have stepped up to support these communities include Casa De Venezuela, Gente De Venezuela, Juntos, New Sanctuary Movement, Aquinas Community Center, PA Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP), PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, Alianza Latina, the Wyss Wellness Center, and Maria de los Santos.
