News and Press Releases
The coronavirus crisis – a turning point
Spiritual orientation can also provide guidance. In this context, we could draw inspiration from those who follow the guidance of Francis and Clare of Assisi. While they lived in another century and faced other crises, social problems, and epidemics, their work may still shape our present actions. According to his own words in the Testament, Francis finds his way out of this personal life crisis because he dared to overcome the “social distancing” towards lepers imposed by society and the church at that time through friendship and solidarity.
On the way … first season
During the month of June, every Thursday, a series of online interviews were carried out on Facebook with members of the Franciscan Network on Migration (RFM) in collaboration with “La ventana de pazybien.es” (The window of pazybien.es). It was an innovative experience where topics on migration were addressed based on the experience and testimony of the guest speakers.
On the way… testimonies from the Franciscan Network on Migration
June 4, next Thursday, we will begin a series of online interviews “on the way” with members of the Franciscan Network on Migration in collaboration with “la ventana de pazybien.es.” We will address some issues on migration based on the experience and testimony of each guest speaker, who is involved in the protection, defense, and care of migrants in one way or another.
Franciscan Network on Migration – USA
The Network organized the first meeting for members of the Franciscan Network on Migration-USA in April. Twenty-nine individuals representing parishes and congregations including friars, sisters and lay workers joined in online
THE FRANCISCAN EXPERIENCE & RESPONSE: COVID19 & BEYOND
The participants talked about how the COVID19 pandemic has exacerbated social and economic divisions in society. There is a fear that the pandemic will see more deaths from poverty than from the virus itself. The lockdowns and the economic slowdown have seen a disproportionate loss of income amongst those living at the peripheries. The immediate need we face is the call for food and safe shelter.
Deportation Update, April 2020
In April 2020 the US began immediate deportations of people who try to cross the border illegally without any due process. They are not receiving applications for asylum. Without reference to their nationality, they are being delivered to INM or dropped off in Mexico and the INM picks them up off the street and then holds them in detention.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Honduras
During COVID-19, the Franciscan Network’s team in Honduras has focused on providing humanitarian aid and developing a “Laudato Si” project to promote self-sufficiency in their communities.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico
The 72 Home-Shelter for Migrants is under quarantine. There are some people who entered after the quarantine began, but staff require them to remain isolated for 14 days, in the area that once housed unaccompanied minors.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Salto De Agua, Mexico.
The Salto de Agua migrant house in normal times can accommodate up to 200 people but very tight. The base team report that there are not now many migrants passing through their region. The house is still open during the pandemic, although the town has a COVID-19 case detected.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Mazatlán, México
The Comedor San Francisco continues to provide food to people. However, since they cannot feed them together in the dining room, they are distributing bags with basic foods: cakes, sandwiches, tuna or sardines, canned goods, cookies, bottled water, cooked eggs, etc. People are not allowed to stay there onsite.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Guatemala City
Given the restrictions established by the Guatemalan government, there are currently no people housed at the Mezquital refuge. The last people to stay included a family from Honduras and 3 men from San Pedro Sula and Olancho. This was on March 14. The restrictions are for the protection of staff and volunteers. They will evaluate these rules once the restrictions are lifted.
RFM Teams and Shelters during COVID-19. Piedras Negras, Mexico
The Frontera Digna shelter currently houses 34 adults and 14 children. The shelter provides 3 meals a day and will allow guests to stay as long as needed. However, the shelter cannot accept new people. In recent days there have not been many people arriving from the south.
Protect Migrants and Refugees during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Slowing the spread of COVID-19 requires that everyone be included in prevention and protection strategies, especially the most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees. This pandemic is a public health crisis that brings home how interconnected we are. It is
our collective responsibility to act rapidly and in solidarity.
Mexico’s detention network is human rights disaster -and U.S. policy is making it worse
On Friday April 3, a fire broke out during a protest in a makeshift facility, located in Piedras Negras, Mexico, which is being used to detain people deported from the United States.
Communique from La 72 migrant and refugee shelter
It is with great pain and rage we denounce and deeply resent the death last March 31, 2020 of a Guatemalan migrant at the Tenosique Migration Station.
Franciscan Network in Honduras Aims to Raise Consciousness and Take Action to Confront the Critical Migration Situation
The Franciscan Network on Migration’s team in Honduras (RFM-Honduras) is composed of Franciscan and other religious and lay people who minister in different areas of the country. Members of RFM-Honduras represent some of the initial organizers of the Network and over the past year they have worked to consolidate their team
Franciscan Network Launches Membership
With our vision to create a network of Franciscans and franciscan-hearted people who are working on migration issues, the Franciscan Network on Migration is pleased to announce the launch of our formal membership.
Mapping Project
Learn about our shelters and services.
Gathering
Understanding, building and growing the Network
Program Focus
Capacity-Building
Members of the Network are already providing a myriad of resources to migrants. Network members will be able to enhance each other’s work by sharing information and resources via different media (bulletins, meetings and gatherings, capacity-building seminars, resource and route maps, threat advisories, etc.) that they can then pass on to migrants in their care along the route.s.
Support and Protection
Members of the Network will foster the establishment of migrant centers, shelters and houses of refuge in areas where there is a lack of resources by connecting donors to new and ongoing programs.
Advocacy and Collaboration.
Fidelity to the Gospel message compels us to not only to recognize the face of Christ in the poor and the excluded, but also to engage in a social analysis to identify the processes of impoverishment and exclusion e.g. root causes, agents, victims, mechanisms and consequences.
