by Rosann Wisman
“Et Laasot Ladonai Haferu toratecha. It’s time to act for God’s sake.”
Rabbi Roos challenged us all to take action in his Kol Nidre sermon last week, focusing on the busloads of migrants arriving in the DMV from Texas and Arizona as an example. Many of you may already be donating or volunteering with local groups working to help these new arrivals. Temple Sinai’s youth group, the Sinaites are gathering toiletries and other essentials to give to arriving migrants. But we want to establish a more organized Temple response. Here’s more….
Current Status of Migrants arriving in DC
193 buses have arrived in DC from Texas and Arizona since April, carrying 8200+ migrants. Hundreds have also arrived independently. They arrive after being processed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at border community in Texas and generally arrive with no money, no phone, and few possessions. Some are told they will have jobs and guaranteed housing if they get on the buses. The bus trip is 36 hours, and they arrive hungry. Many (about 80%) move on to another city—often where they have family or friends. But over 800 have currently here with immediate and ongoing needs including housing, food, formula, diapers, transportation to medical or legal appointments, and help with access to social services. DC has been providing temporary housing to families in hotels, with no supportive services, and nothing to single migrants. Many organizations have stepped in to help but the approach is not very coordinated. The DC government established the Office of Migrant Services through an emergency bill. A hearing on a permanent bill will be held 10/20 and there are many issues under debate about the proposed legislation including how it will impact the 40K homeless families and individuals already underserved in DC.
Temple Sinai’s history on these issues
Temple Sinai has a long track record of responding to those seeking support and a new life in the U.S. Many Sinai volunteers have supported and continue to support Afghani families and a young man seeking asylum from Congo that Sinai has sponsored. Several volunteers have traveled to the McAllen, Texas to assist at the Catholic Charities respite center led by Sister Norma Pimentel. Others have provided translation and support to asylum seekers detained at government facilities. We formally established Temple Sinai as a sanctuary site. But now with over 1000 migrants arriving monthly to the DMV, our efforts must take on new urgency.
We are establishing a Sinai-DMV Migrant Team under the auspices of the Davis Center for Social Justice’s Refugee, Asylum and Immigrant Support Group. Our preliminary thinking is this team will do the following:
- Keep members apprised of the humanitarian, social service, and policy related status of migrants arriving in the DMV.
- Connect members with hands-on direct volunteer opportunities from collecting and sorting winter coats to providing short-term housing.
- Connect members with opportunities to make financial donations to local organizations that are on the front lines with these efforts.
- Inform members about current policy advocacy opportunities, particularly in DC and Montgomery County that can address both short- and long-term issues, including housing and employment, facing migrants who choose to stay in the area.
How to get involved?
- If you want to take action on these issues, contact Jenny Cohen to be added to the Sinai-DMV Migrant Team. We will be holding our first meeting (on Zoom) to brainstorm next steps soon.
- Note: a DC hearing is coming up on October 20 at 10am. The view the hearing virtually, click here.