Rural and Migrant Ministry welcomed asylum seekers from the Crossroads Hotel on a recent Saturday, to the Grail, a retreat center located in the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson. These refugees enjoyed fresh air and food, partook in friendly conversation and enjoyed a moment of peace. A little over a month has passed since these asylum seekers arrived in the Town of Newburgh at the Crossroads Hotel and Ramada Inn. These arrivals were met with heavy criticism from Orange County and several Town of Newburgh residents who have spoken out before the town board.

Pastor Irving Rivera of the Meadow Hill Reformed Church said he was heartbroken to see what has transpired and the impressions that people have given to these men who are seeking support.

“People are ignorant of what’s happening here, said Rivera. “People are ignorant of these people.”

On the day of arrival in May, Wilson Yriate of Bolivia and Dervis Alejandro Rivas Lopez of Venezuela, were open to share their stories. Lopez, a former army sergeant in Colombia, said he had traveled to the U.S./Mexican border and had arrived in Juarez initially. After stops in El Paso, Texas, Seattle, Washington and New York City, he completed his journey in Newburgh. He hopes to find work like many who came with him from the border.

Yriate said he had made the long journey to the United States to escape threats of violence.

“I had to leave my wife, my two daughters. I had a threat made against my life,” said Yriate. “I came here to work, this is why I came here. I have learned a lot of skills. I know how to cut hair, I know construction, I know how to cook, I just really want to work and I want to depend on my work, not on anyone else.”

Asylum seekers Pedro and Simón, both from Chile, recollected their journeys. Rivera served as interpreter for these men. In hopes of providing for his family and making his own way in America, Pedro came here to the United States for work. Back home in Chile, Pedro worked as a professional language/speech therapist.

“I came here like many looking for opportunities. Coming here is a great opportunity to support my family,” said Pedro. “I thought when I arrived here I would find people with their minds open. That’s not what I’ve encountered. The journey coming here was rough.”

Pedro said he had lived in the South Bronx for a time but seeing violence and drugs where he lived made him uneasy. The income that he would make would mainly be for paying rent, he said. When he had heard about the relocation to Newburgh, he pursued the opportunity. Now, Pedro is still searching for work. “I have a friend [Simón] and I have food. I’m thankful to that but I’m just fearful that I’m not going to find work [here],” said Pedro.

Simón also hopes to find work in America. “I came with a motivation to work,” said Simón. Back home in Chile, Simón worked as an engineer and also had a marketing background. Since arriving in America, the language barrier has been a difficulty.

Without an ID number or social security number, work has been difficult to find. Simón said he went to apply for an ID number but was denied because he needed to be legally working for a year.

With all the difficulties still present, both men said they were equally thankful for all the volunteers and groups that have provided support and are hopeful to find work soon during their processing.

Behind the scenes, religious groups and community organizations have worked to provide legal and health services, help find translators and even provide donated clothing for these men. Ignacio Acevedo, Hudson Valley organizer for the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), has received phone calls from neighboring county residents who have inquired about how they can help the asylum seekers through donations or volunteering. Similar to Acevdeo’s efforts, Rabbi Douglas Kohn of Temple Beth Jacob has been actively working behind the scenes to coordinate additional support efforts in the Hudson Valley. Support for the asylum seekers has also come from Town of Newburgh Supervisor Gil Piaquadio.

“I have met with the Greater Newburgh Interfaith Council, organized by Rabbi Douglas Kohn, to assist the asylum seekers being housed in the local area,” said Piaquadio. “I support the work they are doing. ”

As the afternoon continued, the men played games and sang songs before being bused back to the hotel.

“One of the things that is most important about today is the positive energy, the positive energy that comes from people reaching out and working together. We have many wonderful resources here in the Hudson Valley and here in Orange County,” said Richard Witt, Rural and Migrant Ministry Executive Director. “We make a mistake when our starting point is fear, or our starting point is negative. We can all easily fall into the trap of building walls and being negative. If we could just find a way to get to know people, I think that would reduce our fear, and our frustration, and our negative energy.”