Living out the mission:
Addressing spiritual and material needs is living out
the Good News of Jesus Christ. The SWGSM provides the most basic type
of assistance: food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual counseling. Because
99 percent of refugees arrive with absolutely nothing but the clothes
they are wearing, they earnestly seek SWGSM's assistance. They are hungry
and frightened, and they bear marks on their bodies testifying to the
torture and oppression they experienced in their countries. The presence
in Bayview of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Detention Center
for refugees and immigrants, who are here in undocumented status, contributes
to the many refugees who arrive in our midst.
As defined by the 1980 Immigration and Nationality Act,
a political refugee is a person "who is persecuted or who has a
well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion."
In our experience, people almost always apply for refugee status immediately
upon arrival. Most applicants seeking assistance from the SWGSM originate
from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Cuba. Immigration,
generally speaking, is driven by the search for better economic opportunities
and a strong desire to improve the immigrant's social conditions. Refugee
immigration is driven by the search for a safe haven.
We have a very close working relationship and cooperative
spirit with the DHS. On several occasions, they have referred and transported
refugees to our facility. As such, we house the refugees that often
stay between a few days to a few months until they obtain a court hearing
in order to secure political asylum status. Once they have a travel
permit, they are able to travel to other locations and be united with
relatives, friends or sponsors.
Though it is not an easy task, SWGSM continues to provide food, clothing,
shelter, toiletries, medicine, transportation, legal aid, and job referrals.
This is all made possible through the generosity of churches and individuals
that love the Lord and contribute to our ministry.
