Support for Migrants
Welcoming Chicago's Recent Immigrants
Update from our Justice Ministry and Welcoming the Stranger Committee
Since August 2022, Chicago has welcomed more than 8,000 men, women, and children asylum seekers, many bused from the State of Texas. While many asylum seekers are from Central or South America, they also come from countries throughout the world, including Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. These asylum seekers are frequently transported to Chicago without any coordination with city officials or charitable organizations and often arrive without resources.
Catholic social teaching holds that people have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families. While countries have a right to control their borders, this right must be based on justice, mercy and the common good. Everyone has a right to the necessities of life -- food, clothing, shelter -- as well as the right to education, medical care, religion, and the expression of one's culture. In many places, people live in fear, danger, or dehumanizing poverty. When a person cannot achieve a meaningful life in his or her own land, that person has the right to move.
The city has been challenged to find shelter for the recent waves of migrants and community organizations across Chicago need more supplies to provide for their basic needs. Here’s how you can help:
Purchase items, including pants, shoes, shirts, hoodies, backpacks, razor blades, shower shoes and laundry bags, at Rapid Response Wish List on Amazon or at InstitutoChicago.org.
Donate here to Albany Park Mutual Aid’s Support Asylum Seekers Fund, supporting migrants temporarily housed in the 17th police district.
Donate here to Pilsen Food Pantry. Donate here to Nourishing Hope, a food pantry serving the Spanish-speaking community in Humboldt Park.
Donate new and gently used items at 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez’s office. Find the list of requested items here.
Donate items to Erie Neighborhood House, a social services nonprofit seeking donations of clothing and hygienic products.
Donate here to National Immigrant Justice Center, providing legal services to asylum seekers.
This donation information was found through these sources:
Additionally, Saint Clement Parish is partnering with organizations to help support the following organizations supporting the families who have newly found themselves in Chicago:
Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen
Please note, Catholic Charities is in desperate need of volunteers for their supper program at this time. They are serving over 200 individuals and need help packaging and distributing dinner meals. Because of this situation, additional volunteers are greatly needed and will have a strong impact. Saint Clement volunteers serve on the 3rd Friday of the month. Volunteers are to report to Catholic Charities (721 N. La Salle) by 4:00 p.m., will begin serving at 5:00 p.m., and be wrapping up by 6:30 at the latest. Contact Ursula Aguirre to sign up!
Learn about the Reopening of the Madonna House here.
For more information on Catholic social teaching on immigration, click here.