Casa de Paz to host its first-ever International Migrants Day celebration
AURORA, Colo. — For Casa de Paz, everyday is immigrants day. But this year, the local nonprofit is hosting its first ever International Migrants Day party on Saturday, December 18 to celebrate immigrants and the organization's increasing success in its newly purchased home.
Casa de Paz, Spanish for House of Peace, welcomes immigrants recently released from detention centers. Offering shelter, food, emotional support, and transportation, Casa de Paz has served 1,500 individuals and families in 2021 alone. The organization's party will take place at Casa de Paz's new, five-bedroom home, which the organization purchased in September.
There are a number of reasons why a person might be in a detention facility, including if someone arrived at the border without a visa prior to formally applying for asylum or refugee status; an outstanding deportation order on record; or missing prior immigration hearing dates.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Aurora has the capacity to hold about 1,500 people, but that has been reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are inviting the community to come to our home,” Sarah Jackson, the co-executive director of Casa de Paz said. “We will have free mugs with our logo and a phrase that we strongly believe in: ‘Families belong together.’”
"We are going to welcome the volunteers who are invited," Michelle Hernandez said in Spanish. She is the lead host at Casa de Paz. "[The party] will be beautiful."
At Saturday’s in-person event, hot chocolate and tamales will be served along by some of the immigrant mothers who are involved with the organization. In addition, a friend of the Casa de Paz, Daryle Conquering Bear Crow, will virtually pray for the celebration.
Hernandez said Casa de Paz is expecting about 200 people to attend, either virtually or in person.
Guests are invited to bring a memento to the party that “reminds you of a strong, loving immigrant woman in your family’s story.”
Since 2004, December 18 has been observed as International Day of Migrants by the United Nations General Assembly. The day is meant to recognize the growing number of migrants in the world, many who have died crossing the Mexico-United States border. According to the UN, about 281 million people were international migrants in 2020.
At Saturday’s party at Casa de Paz, Kevin Vargas will lead a moment of memory for those who have perished while crossing the border, Jackson told Rocky Mountain PBS.
If you go, please wear a mask. Casa de Paz will host a virtual party for those who can’t attend in person. RVSP here.
Julio Sandoval is a multimedia journalist with Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at juliosandoval@rmpbs.org.
Victoria Carodine is the Digital Content Producer for Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at victoriacarodine@rmpbs.org.