(La Porte, IN) - A family from Central America who crossed the border from Mexico is in La Porte.

 

Center Township Trustee Lisa Pierzakowski said a man, his wife, and their young daughter showed up at Family Advocates last week. A representative from the organization at 1005 Michigan Avenue contacted Pierzakowski to see if she could assist the family.

 

Why the Venezuelan family traveled here after their border crossing hearing is unknown, but they had papers directing them to Family Advocates. However, she did not know how they traveled to La Porte upon entering the United States.

 

Pierzakowski said she was able to put the family up at a hotel and then reached out to the church community for further assistance. She said a church member was able to locate a man with an empty apartment for the family to stay in for the time being.

 

“She found a gentleman involved in their church who had an empty apartment, and he was willing to put them in the apartment,” Pierzakowski said.

Pierzakowski said the family has an upcoming immigration hearing in Chicago and should qualify for government assistance to help with housing and food expenses after their residency hearing.

 

Venezuela has one of the largest refugee crises in the world, with over 6 million Venezuelans leaving the country, according to the UN Refugee Agency.