Unaccompanied Minors

Update on the Southern Border and Unaccompanied Children- from United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

Unaccompanied children continue to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border in large numbers. Coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services has opened emergency intake sites in several cities around the country in order to move children out of the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as quickly as possible. The government is continuing to evaluate new sites. For more updates on the situation at the southern border, related policies, and unaccompanied children, please see our briefing document.  

Below is a non-exhaustive list of Catholic organizations that are working directly with migrants at the border and in facilities for unaccompanied children, along with links for making donations to assist them in their efforts:

• Catholic Charities USA
• Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (also has an Amazon Wish List)
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Laredo
• Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio
• Catholic Charities Dallas
• Diocese of El Paso: Border Refugee Assistance Fund
• Annunciation House of El Paso
• Hope Border Institute
• Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona: Casa Alitas Program
• Kino Border Initiative
• Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico 
• Diocese of San Angelo Immigration Services
• Catholic Charities of San Diego
• Catholic Charities San Bernardino and Riverside Counties
• Catholic Charities of Los Angeles

In addition to monetary contributions, many of the above organizations are also accepting donations of certain items, such as clothing, hygiene products, and paper goods. For information about where and how to send these items, please see the organization's website or contact them directly. Those who are interested in volunteering and located near an influx facility/intake site for unaccompanied children are encouraged to contact their nearest Catholic Charities agency for volunteer opportunities.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay works with USCCB to reunite unaccompanied children with relatives who reside in Wisconsin. We do not currently have a local foster care program dedicated to serving this population and rely on our colleagues outlined above.