Border Response

Held in partnering shelters in Juárez, MX: Huellas aims to equip women with important life-skills and opportunities to earn money through jewelry making, Handmade soaps, and sewing. Huellas is a powerful initiative that continues to grow with an emphasis on collaboration, leadership development, dignity, and joy as communities work together for the common good.

The local migrant shelter network is led by local neighbors, faith leaders, and government employees. These are some of our most dedicated and inspiring partners. Abara partners with other organizations to host monthly leader-equipping workshops, which include a speaker, a meal, and time to fellowship with one another. Additionally, Abara collaborates with partners to sponsor respite care weekends for pastors and spouses who lead church-based migrant shelters. These 1-3 day stay-cations and larger events aim to create opportunities to rest and recharge to prevent burnout and support the sustainability of the shelter network.

In partnership with @KIND, therapeutic art classes are provided in the unaccompanied minor shelter each week. These classes are an opportunity for the children to both relax and have fun or process what’s on their mind in a creative way. It’s an honor and a joy to sit with and learn from some of our youngest and most resilient neighbors.

Abara manages a donation warehouse on site, collecting the most in-demand items that local shelter leaders need to welcome and care for guests. Abara Shelter Connectors check in monthly with partners to identify community assets, assess needs, and coordinate deliveries sustained through mutual friendships.

A note from Angelica Acosta Garnett:

Asylum seekers arriving at the US border face a maze of complex processes, where missing appointments could lead to dire consequences. Drawing from my own immigrant, translator, and paralegal experiences, I created ANT to provide support during this uncertain period.

ANT focuses on asylum seekers who have been granted entry into the United States and are currently transitioning at one of the Migrant Shelters in El Paso, Texas. Through ANT we offer personalized consultations to newly arrived people, reviewing paperwork and creating individual action plans for maintaining legal status in the United States. Additionally, we conduct private interviews to help asylum seekers share their departure stories and create precise timelines.

These interviews result in written statements required for immigration proceedings. We also provide a free English translation of these statements, saving asylum seekers significant costs, as English versions are necessary for admissibility in immigration proceedings.

I firmly believe the nexus between storytelling and the immigration journey is pivotal. The effectiveness of an immigration case often hinges on an individual's ability to articulate their departure from home and recall intricate details to support their plea for assistance. My belief in the power of storytelling drives me to gather crucial details and alleviate the emotional toll of sharing painful experiences. Through ANT, Abara stands with asylum seekers as they navigate their journey to safety."