A Welcoming Home for The Most Vulnerable

Guest post by Mariana Zuniga, a rising 3L at The Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law.

Just 19 miles south of beautiful San Diego rests a 4 story colorful home that blends in with the other residences in the neighborhood. The welcoming sign, “Centro Scalabrini: Yo Andaba de Extranjero y Tu Me Acogiste” allows an immigrant to easily locate the Casa del Migrante. The Casa del Migrante was created in response to the needs of the most vulnerable in Tijuana – the migrants.

Established in 1987, the Casa del Migrante serves as the safe haven for male migrants that were deported from the U.S. into Tijuana. There, individuals are provided – free of charge – with shelter, basic necessities, and the tools needed to find a job. Equality as important, migrants receive the compassion and kindness that oftentimes they do not receive when they are arrested, detained, and deported by the U.S. immigration authorities.

But the Casa del Migrante isn’t your typical shelter. Their mission focuses on safeguarding and promoting their rights while providing the necessary support and tools so that they may successfully reintegrate into society. While an experienced, bilingual in-house attorney offers legal advice to those in need, the young and kind psychologist at the shelter provides psychological therapy to those who are suffering from the trauma endured by the deportation journey.

The Tijuana community is also a major contributor and supporter of the Casa del Migrante. Residents of Mexico volunteer their time daily to cook for the residents of the shelter. The community comes together to provide computer and guitar lessons as well as foreign language classes to ease the trauma that the migrant has just endured.  

The Casa del Migrante is a welcoming, loving home for the most vulnerable in Tijuana – the migrants from all over the world. A place were your nationality and legal status doesn’t define you.

-posted by KitJ on behalf of Mariana Zuniga