The situation in Jacumba Hot Springs, California, a border town located at the U.S.-Mexico wall, has once again become a disaster, and we are asking for your help.

Currently, migrants are coming through the break in the fence at up to 300 per day. They come from many different countries and are voluntarily turning themselves into Border Patrol in hopes of asylum. Some are granted asylum, but many others are deported. So few appointments are available, and many do not have access to cell phones and the internet to request an appointment. (The application also is only in English.) Border Patrol does not have the capacity to process everyone as they arrive. Therefore, the asylum seekers must wait for the bus – sometimes for two days. Border Patrol fears that if adequate shelter were arranged, more migrants would come, so they are not setting up shelter and are reportedly even tearing down tents. We do not expect this situation to change in the foreseeable future. It is getting colder and wetter, and no trees are left in the area for firewood use.

Food is not being provided, so people from our United Methodist churches, Al Otro Lado, the neighborhood, and other organizations are working out of Jacumba UMC‘s Youth Center. There is no end in sight.

There is no state or federal funding available to help with this. However, we are working hard to secure funds from elsewhere.

In the meantime, children are dying, and adults are dying. We are needed.

In addition to the extraordinary work being done by some of our folx who are closer to the border, we have created the following wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2QD2WI81FO0QH?ref_=wl_share

We will update it regularly, so please keep checking back and share it as widely as possible.

We would like to request financial donations to the California-Pacific Conference Immigration Crisis Fund as well. To do so, click the button below.

Thank you!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18

Rev. Dr. Denyse Barnes
Director of Justice and Compassion Essential Ministry Team