Welcoming Fund continues raising money as more migrant buses arrive

Seventy thousand dollars – all from donations – have been spent as part of a city-organized campaign to support the more than 1,000 migrants that have been bused in recent months from the southern border region in Texas to Philadelphia.

In total, the Welcoming Fund has raised more than $140,000, and another disbursement to organizations serving immigrants is scheduled soon, said Luise Moskowitz, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia City Fund.

The city fund, which oversees philanthropic partnerships involving the municipal government, is managing the fund.

Money has gone to the Aquinas Community Center and New Sanctuary Movement to cover housing costs for those seeking asylum, and funds have also supported Juntos, Casa De Venezuela, HIAS Pennsylvania, and the PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition.

Moskowitz said the fund has paid for transportation expenses, cell phones, moving costs, hygiene products, clothing, activities and stipends.

Those interested in donating to the effort can visit www.philacityfund.org.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been shipping asylum seekers to Democrat-run ‘sanctuary cities’ for more than a year, and buses began showing up at 30th Street Station in the fall.

Following a lull, during which no migrants were sent to Philadelphia for several months, the busing operation resumed this month, coinciding with the end of Title 42, a Trump-era rule that allowed the federal government to turn away asylum seekers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Mayor Jim Kenney has said his administration has plans to continue welcoming the asylum seekers, most of whom are from Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. An intake facility for the migrants has been set up in North Philadelphia, and a significant number have not remained in the city, preferring to settle elsewhere.