Alianza Americas’ US Network Mobilizes to Support Central American Families

Alianza Americas, a network of more than 50 migrant-led, migrant-serving organizations across the United States, knows first-hand the struggles and realities confronting the thousands of Central American migrants currently in “exodus” from their countries.
Many of our network leaders are also migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. We also fled the violence and poverty of our countries of origin, conditions that we recognize have been created and exacerbated, in large part, by the short-sighted policies of the United States.
Our transnational perspective of the humanitarian crisis playing out across our hemisphere has spurred our network to action across borders with strategies to combat inequality, impunity and violence in Central America.  We have sent out mobile teams to learn and respond to local needs for legal information,  and are providing direct financial support to migrant shelters in Mexico.
Many Alianza Americas member organizations are actively engaged in this work and with their own efforts to support and protect migrant families across borders. Take a look at a few examples —along with details on how you can support the directly.
Alianza Americas and its member organizations will continue to mobilize to protect and support migrant families across borders. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates about our ongoing response to humanitarian crisis playing out across the Americas.

CARECEN DC

Central American Resource Center in Washington DC (CARECEN-DC) was established in 1981 to respond to the humanitarian needs of Central American refugees who fled the violence and war that ravaged their countries in the 1980s and 1990s.
Now, responding to the current humanitarian crisis playing out across borders, CARECEN leaders have participated in four delegations to the US-Mexico border. Two delegations engaged CARECEN legal experts in supporting migrants in the custody of US immigration authorities, and two were organized in collaboration with partner organizations. CARECEN’s legal services director, Lucero Ortiz, has also traveled to Mexico to volunteer as part of Alianza Americas’ mobilization of asylum experts to shelters housing Central American migrant families. Ortiz also represented Alianza Americas in a briefing on the Central American “exodus” organized by the Inter-American Human Rights Commission in Washington, DC in December.

Support CARECEN-DC’s efforts here.

CRECEN Houston

CRECEN, led by Central American refugees and migrants, has been supporting migrant families in Houston since 1984. Crecen is currently collecting food and clothing for Central American families in exodus, and also sent a delegation of leaders to a fact-finding mission to verify “in situ” the realities facing migrant families in Tijuana.

Support Crecen Houston’s efforts here.

Centro Presente

Centro Presente, based in Boston, defends the human rights of migrant communities, many of them Central American, across the United States, since 1981. As an organization, their program focuses on community organizing, policy advocacy, and leadership development.
With leadership from Centro Presente, Boston’s City Council issued a resolution in support of Central American families in exodus.

Support Centro Presente’s work here.

Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)

The Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) is a state alliance of more than 50 immigrant-rights organizations, including  agricultural workers, students, service providers, community organizations, and lawyers, united to work for equity and justice for all people, including migrants.
FLIC is coordinating a delegation of volunteers—including doctors, lawyers, and mental health providers—to support migrant families currently in shelters in Tijuana. FLIC members are also collecting resources and supplies to donate during their time in Mexico.

Support FLIC’s work here

FLIC, December 18: Our volunteer delegation at the border is supporting the #RefugeeExodus with legal help, translation, providing emergency supplies and much more. We’re helping people like this 4-year-old brother and 7-year-old sister, who came all the way from Guatemala alone with their mom. Help us do more. http://bit.ly/SupportExodus