“Sheriff” Sosa protects immigrants from virus

Refugees in Palomas, Mexico, are assured of getting care for possible COVID-19 infections, thanks to the attention and faithfulness of Rosalío Sosa. 

Sosa is pastor of Iglesia Bautista Tierra de Oro in El Paso and director of Red de Albergues para Migrante, a network of 14 immigrant shelters in the north central Mexican state of Chihuahua.

Throughout the immigration crisis, Sosa has collaborated with city, state and federal government officials to ensure the safety of refugees and to secure available services for their needs. He recently also met with United Nations officials to discuss protections for unaccompanied children and adolescent immigrants. 

Those connections paid off when the Red de Albergues/Fellowship Southwest shelter in Palomas—about 100 miles in the desert west of Juarez/El Paso—encountered a possible COVID-19 scare among refugees.

“We took them to the (local) hospital, … and they refused to check them,” Sosa reported. “We had a hard time getting an ambulance, and they refused to take them to the Ascención hospitals, even though the mayor of Ascención gave the order to take them. The only choice I had was to get the United Nations involved.”

A new general of the Guardia Nacional de Mexico promised to monitor the shelter and community more often, Sosa said. Also, the UN gave Sosa authority to prosecute any authorities who refuse to provide emergency medical service for the refugees.

“Rosalio was given authority over city, state and federal government through the UN to make sure all refugees are given protection,” explained Jorge Zapata, associate coordinator of CBF Texas and director of Fellowship Southwest’s Immigrant Relief Ministry. “He is the new sheriff in town for Palomas, Chihuahua, MX.”

“… No, I say servant instead,” Sosa responded.

Because Sosa works hard and builds strong relationships with caring allies, he’s a servant with the clout to protect refugees.