WINTER 2025 UPDATE
Centro de Esperanza is a shelter and resource center run by the non-profit, Shelters for Hope, for migrants awaiting a chance to apply for asylum in the United States.
Over the past six years, we've sheltered hundreds of asylum-seeking families in Sonora, Mexico - providing safe housing, medical care, and hope during their journey north. But this year, everything changed.
On January 20th, the door to asylum slammed shut when the CBP One program ended and all future appointments to enter the U.S. were canceled. Our shelter population dropped from 150 to 90 as families faced an impossible choice: wait in uncertainty, go back home, or risk everything crossing. Today, we shelter 60 people who cannot leave, including Mexican nationals fleeing violence and Venezuelan families who cannot return home. Another 100 check in regularly from elsewhere in Mexico, asking if there's news on asylum.
We don't have answers for them. We've all watched the news this year—ICE raiding homes, schools, job sites, even courthouses. When families ask us about their options, we tell them to be patient. This reinforces why they're safer waiting with us in Mexico right now.The reality of longer stays: Families have now stayed with us for over a year instead of months as they did in the past. People struggle with the weight of uncertainty and we are doing what we can to help them cope. We have two psychologists who work with the residents, all of whom carry deep trauma. Volunteers offer English classes and a wide variety of activities for the residents. We welcomed two babies this year and have 25 children who attend the local public school. We're helping people find jobs and we're running microenterprise workshops to provide an income for residents who can’t get work permits. And we look for opportunities to celebrate whenever possible.
Then the monsoon hit. September brought catastrophic damage—seven rooms lost their roofs and beds and belongings were destroyed. We replaced sheetrock, insulation, and wiring. The repairs are complete, and we're ready to house 150 people again should the need suddenly return.
In spite of everything, there is hope. Looking ahead to 2026, our plan is straightforward—stay open, stay ready, and keep serving. Our volunteer base is growing, and we receive wonderful news from families who obtained asylum in years past. And we will continue to provide shelter and resources for the families in need.
None of this would be possible without your support. Your generosity over the years has kept our doors open and given hundreds of families a safe place to wait, to heal, and to hope.
Donations to Shelters for Hope are tax deductible.
sheltersforhope.org
PO Box 322 Ajo, AZ 85321
