Photos: Inside the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center for migrants in Tucson, 2023
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Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
- Updated
The new Casa Alitas Drexel Center is located in the southwest area of Tucson. The shelter is only allowing single men to stay there and can currently hold 170 people. Families from detention centers are brought to the shelter, but are placed upon a bus and driven to Phoenix where they will receive aid from the International Rescue Committee.
A migrant looks at his phone while laying on his cot inside the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
A migrant looks at his phone while seated on his cot inside the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
A migrant looks at his phone while laying on his cot inside the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
With an influx of migrants from many different countries, different languages are posted to show the men’s restroom inside the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
A group of migrants wait to enter the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. for processing on April 6, 2023.
A group of migrant families, who were released from a detention center, wait to board a bus at the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
A migrant woman and child, who were released from a detention center, wait to board a bus at the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
Sister Marlita Henseler, left, helps a migrant with his paperwork during the intake process at the new Casa Alitas Drexel Center in the southwest area of Tucson, Ariz. on April 6, 2023.
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
As featured on
The new location on Tucson's south side on West Drexel Road near Interstate 19 is part of the migrant services run by Pima County and Catholic Community Services.
Pima County is preparing to receive thousands of asylum seekers in the coming weeks while aiming to avoid street releases, raising questions about its role in a federal program.
The Tucson congressman is pushing for a review of federal funding provided to Catholic Community Services through Pima County that was used at Casa Alitas, after a conflict of interest controversy.
