Churches aid Central American refugees

For thousands of Central American children fleeing threats of gang violence, the multiweek journey to the United States has meant trusting human smugglers, hitching rides through Mexico, and hoping they survive the experience.

But once they’ve crossed the border and spent several days in detention facilities, some of those traveling with a parent receive a warm, albeit brief, reprieve. They’re finding refreshment at church-run refugee centers, where they eat, shower, and regain strength before boarding buses for points north.

Catholic Charities agencies and their ecumenical partners are delivering humanitarian aid in the Texas cities of McAllen, Brownsville, and El Paso, as well as Yuma and Tucson, Arizona.