Latest number of migrants arrive to California from Texas
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - A group of 41 migrants, including 11 children, arrived at St. Anthony's Croatian Church in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon following a 30-hour bus ride from Brownsville, Texas.
Some appeared to reunite with relatives behind church gates. The asylum seekers are from eight countries: Belize, Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
The mayor's office says they were not formally notified that the bus was on its way. But when they found out on Friday, plans were made to provide food, water, medical and mental health services.
"These are people who in many cases have made very, very long journeys. Journeys that can be traumatic. And to then be put on a bus for 30 hours, this is the end of that journey and so we're just trying to make sure we are as helpful as possible," said Zach Seidler, Deputy Director of Communications.
"I think as a country that is built by immigrants, that is created by immigrants, we have to make sure that in these moments of difficulty, we live by our principles and our values," said Martha Arevalo, Executive Director for the Central American Resource Center (CARC).
This is the second bus load of migrants to arrive from Texas to Los Angeles in the last two weeks.