Asylum Accompaniment Team

St. Joe’s Asylum Accompaniment Team

Did you know? St. Joe’s is supporting asylum seekers in our community! Alvaro Vargas arrived in El Paso, Texas, in December of 2022, with nothing but the clothes on his back, after walking from Nicaragua, through Mexico, to the border of the United States.

Alvaro is fleeing violence in his home country and a total lack of economic opportunities, but he is still supporting his wife and four children in Nicaragua. He is unable to work right now due to his immigration status, and adding to the high cost of living in Seattle are the extraordinary legal fees when seeking asylum, which can climb to upwards of $15,000. The Team has found and funded an apartment of his own, as well as securing high-quality legal representation. 

The Asylum Team also support Jose Alfredo, an asylum seeker from Guatemala, who passed through the shelter at Kino Border Initiative before being assaulted by the Border Patrol, and John Garcia, a friend of the Jesuits from Colombia. The St. Joe's Asylum Accompaniment Fund exists to help them and others with housing, healthcare, and education.

The Asylum Accompaniment Team is a USCCB-certified Welcome Circle for immigrants. Leading the team are volunteer parishioners who have experience with the immigration system: Chris McNabb, Gretchen Brennan, and Dave Zablotny. 

Anyone is welcome to join the team! Just email us at asylumteam@ if you’d like to help.

Can you help? Donate here (be sure to select "Asylum Accompaniment Fund") or send a check to the parish noted for the Asylum Accompaniment Fund.