Diocese of Tucson to hold discussion on migrant housing

Jul 17, 2019

|Associated Press

Diocese of Tucson to hold discussion on migrant housing — People hold hands as they chant at a rally before the start of a march in opposition to the Trump administration’s plans to continue with raids to catch immigrants in the country illegally, Sunday, July 14, 2019, in the Queens borough of New York. (Credit: Julius Constantine Motal/AP.)

TUCSON, Arizona — Tucson’s Catholic leadership is planning to meet with local government officials about where the city can temporarily house migrants seeking asylum.

Catholic Community Services, an organization under the Diocese of Tucson, has asked city and county leaders to discuss the matter Wednesday afternoon.

The organization and county officials have a tentative agreement to move migrant families to unused portions of a Pima County juvenile detention center.

Critics are opposed to placing migrants in any detention facility.

Bishop Edward Weisenburger has said the hope is that migrants will feel safe and welcome as long as they are getting care.

The Tucson Unified School District is considering allowing migrants to stay in two former school buildings.

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