Erio Rosario-Perales is not your typical student.
A graduate student at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Rosario-Perales is also a community organizer in the New Brunswick “Unity Square Neighborhood,” operated by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Metuchen (CCDOM), with a passion for social justice.
He originally studied human resources management with a minor in labor studies. During his junior year, he took a course for his labor studies minor that would change his life.
A community organization representative visited the class and told her story of enduring an unfathomable journey of immigration that included the experience of sexual abuse. As Rosario-Perales listened to her tell her story in Spanish, he immediately felt a connection. A native of Puerto Rico, he compared it to his family’s move to the United States, which was much simpler. “When my family came here, we got on a plane and moved here, and that was that,” he said.
Rosario-Perales was so moved he interned at the organization that summer. The following year, he declared a second major in labor studies. When the opportunity came up through CCDOM to volunteer in the Diocese of Laredo, Texas, to assist migrants at their shelter in June, Rosario-Perales felt obligated to go.
The volunteers had a small building and a small team, but by the time his two-week stay was done, more volunteers had arrived.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Laredo (CCDOL) tracked who was coming in, what shelter they were going to, what their final destination was, and their travel information. The operation included transportation coordination, provisions of food, water, clothing, and sanitation items so migrants could shower. When migrants were released from detention centers, having been there for a couple of days to about a week, Rosario-Perales’ job was to do intake.
“I made it my mission to make sure I had a smile on my face and to treat them with dignity, because I was probably the first person who treated them as a human being in a very long time,” he said.
Rosario-Perales said the people at the shelter did not know where they were going, had not showered, were wearing the same clothes day after day, had no shoe laces and babies with old diapers.
Some people were dropped off at a bus stop or at the airport without food in conditions that at times reached 112 degrees. They were people who did not speak English or know anyone, and who may or may not have any money.
If they were assigned to the Laredo shelter, they would go into another room where another team member would assist them with contacting their families and help to arrange travel. If there was not room at the Laredo shelter, they were dispersed to other shelters that were working in partnership with the Diocese of Laredo. They had to work quickly as an additional 200 people would arrive each day.
Rosario-Perales said he saw babies, children of all ages, pregnant women, single dads with kids, single moms with kids, but very rarely he would see an entire family, so he was especially moved to see a family who thought they would never see each other again be reunited.
For Rosario-Perales, the experiences solidified his desire to work in the field of immigration. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in labor employment relations and is taking steps toward earning his accreditation in immigration services.
Ultimately, Erio plans to attend law school to officially pursue becoming an immigration attorney.
Rosario-Perales’ service in Texas did not go unnoticed. In a July 23 letter to Julio Coto, acting executive director, CCDOM, with a copy sent to Bishop James F. Checchio, Bishop James A. Tamayo, shepherd of the Diocese of Laredo, said, “Thank you for sending Erio Rosario-Perales to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Laredo to assist with the influx of migrants at our shelter.
“I can’t begin to tell you how valuable Erio has been and we are so appreciative of your generosity, dedication, and support as we navigate these difficult circumstances. The flexibility and expertise of Erio had an immeasurable positive impact on our operation and the migrant men, women, and children we have the great opportunity to serve. Your solidarity is much appreciated and we cannot thank you enough.”