Bus of asylum-seekers from Del Rio, Texas arrives in Philadelphia

6abc Digital Staff Image
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Bus of asylum-seekers from Del Rio, Texas arrives in Philadelphia
Their trip to the U.S. has been exhausting, some traveling for two months on foot and by bus to finally reconnect with relatives.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A fifth bus carrying people from Texas seeking asylum in the United States arrived in Philadelphia on Wednesday morning at 30th Street Station.

Officials said 49 people, including seven children, from Del Rio, Texas were on board the bus that arrived at about 10 a.m.

"Thank God we're here. Everyone here has helped us out and treated us well. Thank God we're in this country," said Gary, a 28-year-old man from Nicaragua.

The group will be taken to a welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia, officials said.

SEE ALSO: 2 additional buses of asylum-seekers from Texas arrive at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia

"They have everything inside. They have food, they have medical they have clothes," said volunteer Nancy Pesantez of Ecuador.

The bus that arrived Wednesday is the fifth to roll into Philadelphia this month.

Texas has put more than 300 busloads of migrants on the road since April, sometimes five in a day, on unannounced journeys to cities including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. The trips have cost Texas about $26 million, according to Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Department of Emergency Management.

SEE ALSO: 2nd bus of 46 asylum seekers from Texas arrives at 30th Street Station in Philly

Volunteers, who are also immigrants themselves, understand the grueling process and are working hard to make the families feel comfortable.

"Some tough things I heard were, 'I haven't showered in a week. I haven't brushed my teeth in days. I'm cold. I'm tired. Can I lay down?'" said Heidi Roux with Immigrant Rights Action in Bucks County.

Action News was told some people didn't have shoes on their feet when they arrived.

Volunteers said the children don't look good because some of them hadn't eaten in days.