Aid for Migrants Arriving at Greyhound Station May Move by July's End

Story by Kate Sheehy

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Tucson City Council Member Steve Kozachik said city officials and the community must find a place other than the Greyhound station for handling groups of migrants being transported there.

"We’ve turned it into an intake center," he said. "Quite frankly, the Greyhound folks have said you know, we’re compassionate, we understand the need, but we also have a business that we need to operate."

Thirty to 40 migrants arrive daily at the bus station, almost all women and children from Guatemala.

Kozachik said they have to be out of the station by the end of the month.

Humanitarian organizations in Tucson have been helping Central American migrants being released by federal agencies at the downtown Greyhound bus station.

Catholic Community Services is preparing one of their facilities to be the new intake center.

Many Tucsonans have also given their time to help with the influx of migrants.

"The residents of this city are saying we’re going to offer, to the extent that we can, a compassionate hand to get you through to your next stop, that’s what this city should be proud of," he said.

Catholic Services doesn't yet know when they will be ready to start accepting migrants at their facility. The organizations said it will provide more security and structure than the bus station, until migrants can continue on their journey to reunite with family.