Students at Arizona State University (ASU) have the ability to enroll in a program that allows them to provide support services to illegal immigrants serviced by a Catholic Charities organization in exchange for school credit.
A university website reveals that any student enrolled in an ASU Health Sciences program and some students from the ASU School of Social Work are eligible to “provide aid to migrants looking for a better life” at Casa Alitas in what the university calls the MILAGRO Collaborative.
While the university claims the initiative began “as a group of faculty members volunteering individually to help with the influx of migrants,” it explains the program “evolved” into “a course for students across the Health Sciences.”
The ASU student participation in Casa Alitas was profiled by 13 News on Monday, when the outlet reported students “directly provide care and support” to illegal immigrants while teaching prospective healthcare professionals “how to help underserved communities.”
Casa Alitas is project of Catholic Community Services, which in turn is part of Catholic Charities. It has provided shelter for illegal immigrants who are released into the United States in conjunction with the federal government since at least 2014, and began contracting with the City of Tucson in 2019.
It was among the organizations in Pima County considering ending or reducing their operations after Republicans successfully blocked foreign aid and border legislation that would have provided federal funding to house illegal immigrants.
Casa Alitas was identified by Representative Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07) in February as one of four groups congressmen allegedly observed “aiding and facilitating illegal immigration” into Arizona.
Casa Alitas display flags from immigrants’ home countries / University of Health Sciences
Tiffany also claimed congressmen saw evidence of the American Red Cross and Catholic Charities aiding illegal immigrants, which drew the attention of Tesla and Space X executive Elon Musk.
Catholic Charities activists were similarly identified by a The Star News Network reporter in 2022, when they were observed meeting illegal immigrants in Washington, D.C. who were bused by Governor Gregg Abbott from Texas. The activists provided the illegal immigrants with food and supplies, plus bus tickets to their destinations of choice.
While workers at some of the illegal immigrant supporting organizations were told their employment would end at the end of the month, the $1.2 trillion federal budget crafted by lawmakers and approved by President Joe Biden last week includes $650 million that will be disbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to nonprofits to continue.
If the funding does not meet the nonprofits’ expectations, they have claimed illegal immigrants will be released onto the streets of Arizona cities and towns without support or shelter.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “ASU Volunteer at Casa Alitas” by University of Arizona.
