Immigration is frequently a hot topic of conversation in the political sphere, particularly during pivotal election years. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported in 2023 that the number of forcibly displaced people was 110 million – the highest at any point since the end of World War II. In the face of such staggering statistics, it can be easy to forget that each person brings their own unique experience and background to their migration story. We know that women, mothers, parents, and families face unique challenges when seeking safety in a new home. UNICEF reports that 1 in 4 people on the move in Latin America and the Carribean is a child, the highest proportion of any region in the world. In light of this, we would like to share a story of a local immigrant mom who we were proud to support through the Triangle Immigrant Solidarity Fund, a grassroots local cash-assistance program for undocumented families.
In a conversation with Madison Burke, Migrant Services Coordinator at CWS, Paula* shares her gratitude for the sustainers of the Immigrant Solidarity Fund (ISF) for the support that they’ve offered she and her family during a moment of crisis. Paula arrived in the community in 2005, when her family brought her as an adolescent from Michoacán, Mexico. Her parents remain in the community, and Paula has spent her whole adult life here in the Triangle. She eventually married and formed her own family, but she has not been able to adjust her immigration status. She has a young daughter who was born prematurely with a medical condition that requires extensive caretaking. Paula says:
“Before my daughter was born, my husband and I worked. After she was born, I couldn’t work anymore. She requires a lot of care…. My husband is the only one who works now. Life is so expensive, money doesn’t stretch, salaries are the same, but the cost of everything rises. I heard about the assistance from you, my pastor told me about it, because she is aware of our situation. We applied because the place where we live is being sold, and we realized that in any moment, they could kick us out.”
While Paula and her family await more information about when the house they rent will be sold, they are seeking a cheaper place to move to when the moment arrives. Paying both a deposit and rent will be expensive, but with the support they received from the ISF, they have peace of mind knowing they’ll have the deposit ready when the time comes to move.
“We can’t move to a rural area, because we need to be able to get to a hospital within 30 minutes in case of an emergency, due to my daughter’s condition. We always have to be attentive to her…. We have to take her to appointments two or three times a week, to specialists, therapies, etc…. We also depend on help from a nurse. To take my daughter to an appointment, I have to take oxygen tanks, gloves, the medical kit, the battery for her ventilator, etc…. We are ready because we know when we find the place, we will have the money and we can say ‘Let’s go’.”
The Immigrant Solidarity Fund was originally established in 2019 in response to the increased ICE activity that affected hundreds of undocumented households. Today, the Immigrant Solidarity Fund, in partnership with local grassroots organizations and faith communities, is raising funds to offer financial support to eligible households across five regions of North Carolina. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the undocumented community was particularly affected, and many families are still being affected by the cost-of-living crisis, lack of accessible and stable jobs, and scarcity of affordable housing, among other things. Our community is also receiving many new neighbors from the southern border, who need support while they go through the process of applying for asylum. We recognize that there still exists the need for the undocumented community in North Carolina to access resources in a confidential, fast, and culturally– appropriate way. To date, we have distributed more than $1 million in direct assistance to families throughout the state, thanks to the support of the community.
To support families like Paula’s, please visit our Immigrant Solidarity Fund | CWS Durham webpage or contact Madison Burke, Migrant Services Coordinator, at mburke@cwsglobal.org. Checks can be mailed to:
Payable to: “Church World Service”
Memo: Triangle ISF
Mailing Address: CWS, Attn: Ellen Andrews
504 W. Chapel Hill St, Suite 106
Durham, NC 27701
Thank you for helping to create a more welcoming community for all!
*name changed to protect client privacy