Casa del migrante helps deportees adjust to a country they no longer know

By Vicki Adame

TIJUANA, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO — Miguel Antonio Galindo sat on a wooden bench in the courtyard of Casa del Migrante in Tijuana. Everything he owned was in a black pack that lay next to him. His black rectangular glasses held together with tape on both sides.

He spoke flawless English to a visitor. He’d been in Tijuana for a month after being deported from the United States.  He was one of about 130 men who were being given a place to live temporarily until they decide what to do next.

Casa del Migrante in Tijuana was founded by the Misioneros de san Carlos Borromeo, also known as Scalabrinianos. The shelter provides humanitarian services to migrants that includes medical help, shelter and food. Since opening its doors in 1987, it has helped more than 240,000 migrants from all over Mexico, Central America and other countries. This includes Mexican deportees and immigrants from Central America on their way to the United States. The shelter houses 170 men at any given time, providing a place to sleep and meals. Men can stay for a maximum of two weeks at the shelter depending on availability at the shelter.

But as President Donald Trump’s administration  cracks down on undocumented immigrants, those who run the shelter are working to be ready to handle what they fear will be an increase in deportees seeking help at Casa del Migrante.

Father Pat Murphy, who began his fifth year running Casa del Migrante on May 1, said although the number of deported men staying at the shelter has been slightly down, he does not expect it to remain that way. He knows the moment will come when the number of deportations under Trump will increase. And he and those who work with the deported are preparing.

According to data obtained by the Washington Post under a request for information, from January through mid-March there were 21,362 immigration arrests, an increase of more than 5,000 from the same period the previous year.

“Giving food and shelter is the easy part. What really needs to be worked on is social integration,” Murphy said. “Some have been in the U.S. for 25 years and really don’t know the country (Mexico).”

He points to Galindo, who doesn’t speak Spanish and notes that officials are having trouble locating his birth certificate.

“There are so many doors closed to him,” Murphy said.

The priest acknowledged that the process of reintegration is finally on the radar of the Mexican government, but he said, “We have been doing the brunt of the work without much help from the government.”

Murphy said the U.S. could deport 10,000 people to Tijuana.

“We don’t have room for 10,000. We fit 170,” Murphy said.

Last year, Casa del Migrante had 9,000 men pass through its doors. Of those, 6,500 were deportees, Murphy said.

 

But it’s not just Mexicans who find shelter at Casa del Migrante. Over the past year, hundreds of Haitian asylum seekers have been living at the shelter.

Murphy estimated that 20,000 Haitians made it to Mexico, including to the border region of Tijuana. “But it took eight months for the (Mexican) government to say this was an emergency,” Murphy said. “I said it was an emergency after one month.”

In addition to providing basic necessities, the shelter serves as a de facto recruitment center for the numerous call centers in Tijuana.

On this particular afternoon, the recruitment manager for Americas Survey Company, Humberto Galindo, was at the shelter to touch base with the staff.

He sat on a bench next to Miguel Galindo, no relation.

Having recognized Miguel Galindo from his interview, he asked how he was doing. He encouraged Miguel to practice his computer skills while he was at the shelter and then reapply.

Miguel appeared taken aback by the offer, but he said he would.

Humberto explained that his employer takes a different approach when it comes to hiring.

“We may not pay the highest salary, but we do create loyalty,” he said.

He said while the men have the English language skills and sound American, many don’t know how to type or have simple computer skills.

“What we want to do is create two or three day workshops where they learn the skills. Then they can come apply again. We don’t just say no,” Humberto Galindo said.

The call center employs more than 450 people. And according to Humberto Galindo, 35-40 percent of those are people who have been deported.

For Miguel Galindo, 36, his stay at Casa del Migrante also provides an opportunity to adjust to life on the outside. He spent the previous 17 years in prison and by his own admission doesn’t know how to interact in a social setting.

He still marvels at how he was received when he was dropped off in Tijuana.

“I’ve never been treated so well in my life,” Miguel Galindo said.