Latest news with #HopeBorderInstitute
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
El Paso immigrant legal advocacy group gets $25K grant to aid migrants amid federal cuts
The El Paso-based immigration advocacy group Estrella del Paso was given a $25,000 grant to support their efforts to accompany migrants in the Borderland. The funding, announced Monday, May 5, will allow the organization to continue providing immigrants with no-cost legal representation, organizing Know Your Rights workshops and supporting immigrants navigating through the immigration system. The grant comes as the Trump administration has eliminated federal contracts that previously funded legal services for migrants across the southern border. 'In the face of growing legal barriers and shrinking federal support, our community is coming together to ensure due process and human dignity," Melissa M. Lopez, executive director of Estrella del Paso, said in a news statement. "This grant is a lifeline—not just for our organization, but for the thousands of vulnerable people we serve.' The grant comes from the Border Refugee Assistance Fund, a joint initiative of Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso and the Hope Border Institute. Seitz and Dylan Corbett, the executive director of Hope Border Institute, joined Lopez in announcing the grant in a news conference on Monday, May 5, at the Estrella del Paso office in El Paso. More: Federal judge declines to block Trump's immigration enforcement in sacred places President Donald Trump has cut federal funding that went to support legal representation of immigrants since assuming office on Jan. 20. The administration has cut up to $200 million in funding that went to assisting migrants with legal representation, according to reporting from ABC. Trump also ended refugee resettlement programs through an executive order. Organizations, including Catholic groups like the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, that have supported are scrambling to find funding. "The administration right now is doing everything it can to hollow out the network of service providers that provide essential services to immigrants and refugees in our country," Corbett said. "Estrella is in the crosshairs of this administration. They've had significant cuts to their funding … It is not a huge amount of money, but we felt that it was important that we continue to support migrants and refugees and their legal needs by supporting Estrella del Paso." The Border Refugee Assistance Fund was established in 2019. They have been able to direct $600,000 into humanitarian efforts since it was established, said Corbett. More: El Pasoan residents march to demand respect for border community's dignity and rights Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@ on Twitter or @ on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso immigrant advocacy group receives grant to help migrants
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Diocese of El Paso, others to hold mass, march in ‘solidarity with migrants' next Monday
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Hope Border Institute, Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the Diocese of El Paso, and local community leaders will hold a 'March and Vigil in Solidarity with Migrants' next Monday, March 24 in Downtown El Paso, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso said in a press release. The Diocese says the mass march and vigil will take place at 6 p.m. in San Jacinto Plaza on Monday, March 24. The Diocese says the march and vigil will take place regarding the closure of the 'US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, harsh rhetoric against those who have immigrated to the United States, and threats of mass deportation.' An international delegation of Catholic bishops, including bishops from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the Vatican will also be present at the march and vigil, the Diocese said. Community leaders and organizations participating include Ruben Garcia of Annunciation House, Melissa Lopez of Estrella del Paso, Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Celino of the Diocese of El Paso, the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, Iglesia Delta, Trinity First United Methodist Church, Abara, El Paso faith, civic leaders and others, the Diocese said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
