On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the City of Philadelphia welcomed its first cohort of individuals seeking asylum who were bused from Texas.
As a proud welcoming city, Philadelphia will continue to greet our newly arrived neighbors with dignity and respect. City agencies, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) mass care partners, immigrant leaders, and immigrant-serving nonprofits are working together to welcome, assist, and provide support to these individuals and families.
Below is more information about how you can get involved and help Philadelphia’s newest arrivals and updates from the City of Philadelphia about these efforts.
How you can help
Donate to the Welcoming Fund
The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Philadelphia City Fund have launched the Philadelphia Welcoming Fund to allow Philadelphia residents the opportunity to contribute to local efforts to welcome immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Philadelphia.
The funds collected by the Welcoming Fund will be provided to nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia area that are supporting arriving immigrant communities.
Updates
December 17, 2023
On Sunday, December 17, approximately 29 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 23 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Colombia, Peru, and Honduras.
December 16, 2023
On Saturday, December 16, approximately 34 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, all 34 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras.
On Saturday, December 16, a second bus with approximately 34 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, all 34 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Honduras.
December 15, 2023
On Friday, December 15, approximately 34 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, all 34 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela.
December 14, 2023
On Thursday, December 14, approximately 40 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, all 40 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Columbia, and Bolivia.
October 6, 2023
On Friday, October 6, approximately 42 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 38 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
October 3, 2023
On Tuesday, October 3, approximately 32 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via 2 buses. Upon arrival, 26 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Ecuador, Honduras and Columbia.
September 28, 2023
On Thursday, September 28, approximately 83 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via 2 buses. Upon arrival, 73 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.
September 27, 2023
On Wednesday, September 27, approximately 49 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 43 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Columbia, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
September 20, 2023
On Wednesday, September 20, approximately 91 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 65 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Georgia, Angola, El Salvador, Haiti, Uzbekistan, Syria, Mexico, and China.
September 15, 2023
On Friday, September 15, approximately 56 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 36 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala.
September 14, 2023
On the morning of Thursday, September 14, approximately 35 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 23 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil.
In the evening, approximately 51 people seeking asylum traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 49 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Columbia, Chile, Dominican Republic, and Honduras.
September 10, 2023
On Sunday, September 10, approximately 52 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 25 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Peru, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Georgia, Angola, El Salvador, Haiti, Uzbekistan, Syria, and China.
September 8, 2023
On Thursday, September 8, approximately 50 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via 2 buses. Upon arrival, 38 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
September 3, 2023,
On Sunday, September 3, approximately 88 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via 2 buses. Upon arrival, 61 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala and Columbia.
September 2, 2023
On Saturday, September 2, approximately 56 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 36 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, and Columbia.
August 30, 2023
On Wednesday, August 30, approximately 53 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 43 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador.
August 22, 2023
On Tuesday, August 22, approximately 100 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via two buses. Upon arrival, 83 passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Colombia, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
August 16, 2023
On Wednesday, August 16, approximately 53 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Approximately half of the passengers registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Guatemala.
August 15, 2023
On Tuesday, August 15, approximately 61 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 34 of them registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Columbia.
August 11, 2023
On Thursday, August 11, approximately 42 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 23 of them registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Columbia.
August 3, 2023
On Thursday, August 3, approximately 57 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via two buses. Upon arrival, 27 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Venezuela, and Colombia.
July 28, 2023
On Friday, July 28, approximately 74 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via two buses. Upon arrival, 63 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, and Jamaica.
July 20, 2023
On Thursday evening, July 20, approximately 36 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 34 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, and Guatemala.
July 14, 2023
On Friday night, July 14, approximately 39 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 36 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, and Guatemala.
July 13, 2023
On Thursday morning, July 13, approximately 23 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 21 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras and Venezuela.
July 8, 2023
On Saturday morning , July 8, approximately 30 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 26 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Venezuela.
July 5, 2023
On Wednesday morning , July 5, two buses with approximately 51 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 48 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Venezuela.
June 30, 2023
On Friday night, June 30, approximately 37 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 33 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from China, Ecuador, Honduras, and Venezuela.
June 24, 2023
On Saturday morning, June 24, approximately 41 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 39 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, and Venezuela.
June 21, 2023
On Wednesday morning, June 21, approximately 55 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 53 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Colombia and El Salvador.
June 15, 2023
On Thursday morning, June 15, approximately 44 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 43 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, and Colombia.
June 10, 2023
On Saturday evening, June 10, approximately 53 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 45 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia and roughly 12 asylum seekers were relocated to the City’s second welcoming center. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela and Colombia.
June 9, 2023
On Friday evening, June 9, approximately 46 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 42 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador.
June 7, 2023
On Wednesday evening, June 7, approximately 32 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. All of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Peru, Venezuela, Honduras, and Guatemala.
June 4, 2023
On Sunday morning, June 4, approximately 36 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 23 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, and El Salvador.
June 3, 2023
On Saturday morning, June 3, approximately 41 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 37 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Colombia, Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador, Uzbekistan.
May 30, 2023
On Tuesday evening, May 30, approximately 51 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 35 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Honduras, Peru, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
May 28, 2023
On Sunday morning, May 28, approximately 28 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 16 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador.
May 26, 2023
On Friday morning, May 26, approximately 49 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus (one person arrived on his own from Brownsville Texas to reunite with family already at the Center). All 50 were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Honduras, Venezuela; Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile, Panama, Mexico, and Colombia.
May 24, 2023
On Tuesday evening, May 23, approximately 40 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. All were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. The individuals and families that arrived are from Venezuela, Haiti, Honduras, Colombia, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
May 18, 2023
On Thursday, May 18, the City reported that 46 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival, 38 of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
May 17, 2023
On Wednesday, May 17, the City reported that 34 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. All of them were registered at the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
May 10, 2023
On Wednesday, May 10, the City reported that 31 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 26 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. All of those on board are from Venezuela.
December 29, 2022
On Thursday, December 29, the City reported that approximately 60 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 43 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
In addition, on Saturday, December 24, approximately 99 asylum seekers arrived in Philadelphia from Texas via two buses. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 47 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia.
December 21, 2022
On Wednesday, December 21, the City reported that 125 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 84 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
December 16, 2022
On Friday, December 16, the City reported that 84 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 60 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
December 12, 2022
On Monday, December 12, approximately 20 asylum seekers arrived in Philadelphia from Texas via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 14 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia.
December 5, 2022
On Monday, December 5, the City reported that 53 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 33 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and have been fully screened by Customs and Border Patrol before arriving in Philadelphia.
November 30, 2022
On Wednesday, November 30, the City reported that approximately 49 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 43 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and have been fully screened by Customs and Border Patrol before arriving in Philadelphia.
November 25, 2022
On Friday, November 25, the City reported that approximately 71 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 49 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and have been fully screened by Customs and Border Patrol before arriving in Philadelphia.
November 21, 2022
On Monday, November 21, the City of Philadelphia welcomed the second bus of asylum seekers from Texas. 46 asylum seekers traveled from Texas to Philadelphia via bus. Upon arrival at 30th Street Station, 29 of them were transported to the City’s welcoming facility on E. Luzerne Street in North Philadelphia. Many of them are from Colombia, Cuba, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and have been fully screened by Customs and Border Patrol before arriving in Philadelphia.
Services we’ve provided
Immediately upon arrival, individuals were greeted by the City’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, an array of non-profit partners as well as local hospitals providing the following services:
- Emergency health screening,
- Temporary respite,
- Food and water,
- Legal consultation and orientation,
- Relocation support to other destinations,
- Social services,
- Case management,
- On-site language interpretation.
What does it mean to seek asylum?
Families seeking asylum have arrived in Philadelphia. Asylum is a form of protection available to anyone at risk of serious harm in their home country who must leave in search of safety in another country.
The first step for a person seeking asylum is to leave one’s home, one of the most challenging decisions a person will ever make. In fleeing their home country, they must leave behind everything they’ve ever known—their friends, family, home, job, personal belongings, and sense of security.
Asylum seekers often embark on dangerous journeys across land and sea to reach a new country. Learn more about asylum seekers at the UN Refugee Agency.
Additional resources for asylum seekers
In the Philadelphia region, Nationalities Services Center and HIAS Pennsylvania are among the nonprofit organizations offering immigration legal services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, including our new arrivals. The Philadelphia region also has a thriving sector of immigrant-serving organizations that have stepped up to support these communities. They include Casa De Venezuela, Gente De Venezuela, Juntos, New Sanctuary Movement, Aquinas Community Center, PA Immigrant Family Unity Project (PAIFUP), PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition, Alianza Latina.
If there are other resources not listed here that would be helpful, please email OIA@phila.gov and the Office of Immigrant Affairs can look into updating the list accordingly. Please allow 2 to 3 business days for a response.
