An asylum advocacy group is seeking volunteers to help migrants the government plans to release from detention in Louisiana and transport to Birmingham.
The migrants are expected to be released following the Biden administration’s end to Title 42, a WWII public health law Trump used to restrict asylum-seekers from taking refuge in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court this week in a 5-4 decision agreed to hear arguments over the policy in February and to keep it in place until they rule.
That ruling likely keeps Title 42 in place for at least several months but is not the final word. The court will review whether the 19 states — including Alabama — that are challenging the policy have a right to intervene in the lawsuit.
The Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership plans to help the migrants with basic supplies once they arrive in busloads of 50 people in Birmingham. They will then help the migrants travel on to meet their sponsors in other cities.
“Volunteers from various community organizations will provide them with food and warm clothing, assist them with contacting their sponsors in other cities, book bus or plane tickets for them, and transport them to the airport or bus station,” the group said in a press release.
The asylum seekers are scheduled to arrive in Birmingham on the mornings of January 11, 18 and 25 at Trinity West Homewood.
The advocacy group is seeking donations and volunteers for the effort.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
