Sophie's Choice at Arizona Border: A Humanitarian Crisis

Crossing the border can be deadly. Body of migrant found outside Tucson

I drove down to Nogales on Wednesday and crossed over to the Mexican side. No More Deaths has an aid station set up there where they ask migrants being sent back to Mexico if they need medical assistance and if they were abused by Border Patrol.

No More Deaths aid station in Nogales

While I was standing there taking photos, an older woman with two younger girls walked up. The older woman told us with terror in her eyes that she was held for 30 days for a false passport and that her money was taken from her. The tears were welling up in her eyes. The volunteer nurse who was standing next to me got the number on her documents and immediately made a call to the Mexican Consulate. The nurse was unable to make contact, but left a message.

No More Deaths aid station and Red Cross combine efforts to assist migrants

Later while we were at the food bank they have set up about a block away, this nurse got the call from the Mexican Consulate to say they were going to get every cent that woman had back. The point of my story is that the exploitation of the migrants who are in desperate situations is appalling.

Food Bank in Nogales

At the food bank, the migrants are provided with donated food, clothes, shoes, and socks. The lines are long and often the donated items run out long before everyone has a chance to get what they need. The volunteer nurse who came down that day provides medical attention.


No More Deaths volunteers hand out donated clothes at Food Bank



I was so overwhelmed with what I saw that the tears were welling up behind my sunglasses. One young girl came up for medical assistance. I sat next to her while she was being treated for a knee injury and talked to her in my broken Spanish.

Maria Guadalupe gets medical treatment by No More Deaths volunteer nurse

Twenty-two year old Maria Guadalupe was from Michoacan. Maria got picked up in a car headed for Phoenix after having walked for four days through the desert. She was about an hour away from her journey's end where her husband was waiting. To join her husband in Phoenix, Maria had to make a Sophie's Choice-like decision. So desperately poor and wanting a better life for her child, she was forced to leave her 7 month old baby with family to make minimum wage thousands of miles away from her home.

Maria Gudalupe

I could not sleep that night and I still see Maria Guadalupe's face.


Post looking for family member who more than likely perished in the desert trying to cross

The number of people who have passed through the No More Deaths aid station in Nogales is more than 300,000 since 2006. The NMD volunteers have documented 345 cases of abuse at the hands of the Border Patrol. 183 people have died in the desert so far this year trying to cross. The numbers are likely 9 or 10 times higher since many migrants are never found. The body decomposes quickly in the desert sun. Often times when a body is found in the desert, the migrant has taken off all his clothes and folded it neatly next to him/her. The intensity of the sun makes it unbearable for clothes to touch their burning skin. Or sometimes the body is buried under the sand or dirt in attempt to stay out of the heat. It is a horrible, painful, and terrifying death.
Border Patrol escorting migrants to detention center, please note the lack of water provided for them by Border Patrol, no one is carrying a water bottle

As mentioned in a previous post, until Mexico and the United States address the economic root of the problem, there will continue to be a massive migration. The unsightly wall that has been put up only delays a migrant's crossing by about 5 minutes. The wall must come down not only because it is useless, but the message it sends is not the message our government should support. Moreover, it is wreaking havoc on the desert animal migration and the ecosystem.

The Wall, near Sasabe, AZ

I met two men at the aid station. One from Honduras and one from Guatemala. They told me that they were going to attempt to cross again the next day. The man from Guatemala had lived in Phoenix for fourteen years. He was stopped on a traffic violation and did not have a chance to say good bye to his family comprised of a wife and four children.



Honduran man on left, Guatemalan man on right




There are three organizations helping migrants in Tucson. No More Deaths is the most hands on organization. Since this work is controversial, No More Deaths has difficulty finding funding. However, the work they do has saved countless lives. They set up camps in the desert and go out on daily patrols looking for migrants in distress. They drive the back roads and also get out and hike.


No More Deaths truck parked at the camp site waiting for the morning patrol


They recently set up a tent like what we saw on the show M.A.S.H. The tent is equipped with cots and medical supplies to treat migrants. Most suffer from heat-related illness and blisters on the feet from wearing improper shoes.

No More Deaths Medical Tent at camp site


The Samaritans are similar in their efforts, but they do not have camps set up out in the desert. They patrol the back roads and also hike.

A Samaritan volunteer ready for a desert patrol on the migrant trail


Humane Borders is the least controversial and thus gets the most funding. Pima County government gives them a $25,000 grant every year. They have 99 water stations set up across the desert outside Tucson and as far as Organ Pipe.


Humane Borders truck


If this post and photos have moved you in any way to action, please write a check and make it out to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson (memo line: No More Deaths-Mary Cuevas) and mail it to the address below. Financial donations are tax-deductible and April 15th is just around the corner.

Please mention that you heard about NMD through my blog. Thanks in advance. Your donation will surely save countless lives this summer where temperatures soar above 100 degrees for days on end.

No More Deaths
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson
PO Box 40782
Tucson, AZ 85717

Migrants at Food Bank in Nogales

For more information please visit the website: www.nomoredeaths.org
A No More Deaths volunteer nurse helps remove a cactus spine from a migrant's foot at the Nogales Food Bank

Humane Borders

Bob and Joe of Humane Borders standing next to truck at Mexican border; the wall in the background

I went out with Humane Borders yesterday. Left Tucson at seven in the morning and returned around one in the afternoon. We went down through Three Points out on the Tohono O'odham Nation and then on down Highway 286 towards Sasabe and the Mexican border. We hit 7 water stations. Meaning we checked on 7 water stations.

The stations are set up off the highway down dirt roads. Humane Borders has placed blue flags so we can find them...and more importantly, so the migrants crossing the deadly heat and cold of the desert out here can find them.

I forgot to take a photo of a water station, but if you look at the photo of the truck, the two blue barrels are exactly what we have set up out at the water stations. Migrants can either fill up bottles they are carrying, or sip from the faucets.

Humane Borders truck


The trucks, filled with water, have a hose similar to what you might see on a fire truck, only smaller. If the barrels are empty, we take the hose and fill it up. Pretty simple.

Humane Borders has an excellent set up out there. Pima County government gives $25,000 to keep the barrels full. Some rich benefactor in Tucson gives $20,000 a year. And then various other orgs and places help fund the $100,000 per year operation.

Humane borders has 5 trucks. I think that is what Bob and Joe told me yesterday. Bob has been volunteering for 2 years or so. And Joe has gone out on 7 or 8 runs. I asked Bob how many water stations were set up out in the desert. He said 99. They even have a few out Organ Pipe way.

Since this was my first trip out, Bob and Joe gave me the grand tour and took me on the scenic route. We saw a herd of deer. Not sure if herd is the right word. A pack of deer? Anyway, that was way cool. He also took me to meet the park ranger out at Buenos Aires Refuge/National Park. Cool old man with a cool old chocolate colored dog.

Sasabe Store

Bob asked if I had seen the wall yet. I had not. So we drove through Sasabe, passing the one and only store in the town. Just past Sasabe is the Mexican border. We passed the new detention center they have built to process the migrants. The border checkpoint was completely empty except for us.

Detention Center built to process migrants

The wall is definitely an unsightly sight for sore eyes. Bob told me that they brought in the metal from old airstrips in Vietnam. Think that is what he said. He also told me that about two weeks ago an endangered jaguar was found trying to get to the other side of the fence. It is a long unhappy story, but Bob said they tried to collar the jaguar to track it. They found the jaguar again in some serious distress a few weeks later and were forced to euthanize it.
The Wall

In my training last weekend, I discovered that the wall only causes a 5 minute delay to migrant crossing. They manage to get over quite easily. However, the animals who live out in the desert are not so lucky and it is causing their migration to be interrupted. I actually saw a video on all of this last week during our training presented by someone from the Sierra Club. You can watch it on their website if interested.

Sign just outside Sasabe

In my humble opinion the wall must come down. Moreover, we need to get to the economic root of the problem with migration. A European Union type system was proposed by Vicente Fox at the beginning of his term as president of Mexico. Can you imagine that? An open border between Canada and Mexico?

Border check point was empty outside Sasabe

Bet the disparity between rich and poor in Mexico would be on the top of the agenda of whomever became president of this European Union type system. Guess a good name would be North American Union.
The wall that killed the jaguar

Tucson, Arizona: Get Back To Where You Once Belonged

Saguaro National Monument (West)

I have moved to many places in my life, including four countries outside the USA, but this was indeed in record breaking time for me.

I found a place on Sunday, February 22nd. More on that later. I drove back on Monday, hired my friend Heather's teenage son to act as my "production assistant" on Tuesday. Packed everything that day and put it in storage. I cleaned the place Wednesday morning and drove back to Tucson in the afternoon.

Desert Bloom

In a weird way I guess I am lucky not to be in a career, or relationship, or a property owner. If I were, I would not have been able to pick up and leave like I just did.

I was thinking of the Beatles song Get Back on my drive back to Tucson. You know..."Jo Jo left her home in Tucson, Arizona for some California grass...Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged."



Tucson Sunset




My dad has made a remarkable recovery. He is using a cane now rather than the walker. He had a doctor's appointment on March 4th. The doctor told my dad he no longer needs the catheter. Oh happy day.

My dad has been going to lunch at the country club with his buddies. My dad has also been hanging with his "lady friend" so much that he is never home when I call to check on him. Rumor has it they may be shacking up soon and living in sin. She is 75, my dad is 81.

San Xavier Mission

I found a place through my friends Tim and Mary. Tim is a fantastic journalist who writes for the Tucson Weekly. He writes a lot on border issues. His wife, Mary, is a playwright and teacher. They hooked me up to this woman I am sharing a condo. Her husband just left and so she wanted a roommate.



La Placita Village in Tucson






It is a gorgeous Spanish-style condo in central Tucson, Speedway and Alvernon area. This is five minutes from my dad's place. When I drove up to look at the place, I saw the name of the condos are Cuernavaca Villas . I knew it was a good sign.

That fab summer of 1990 I spent in Mexico while in college where I had the affair with the sexy lawyer... well I spent 3 weeks in Cuernavaca. Absolutely loved that city. Gorgeous.

My rent $350. Yes way.

City of Tucson

Anyway, my roomie is from Mexico and a department manager for Barnes and Noble. She has maid service twice a week. Man I feel like I am in Bogota, Colombia again. The maid asked if I wanted her to make my bed. I said, "no, gracias." The next time she came she made breakfast. She asked if I wanted some breakfast. I said, "si gracias." The maid does not speak English so I have been practicing my Spanish with her. I swear, I feel so lucky that everything fell into place so easily.

One last thing about my condo, I have an assigned covered parking space. Very good to have in this Arizona heat. Also, it is gated. So I feel safe. And we have a pool. Important to have one here in the desert.

One more last thing about my roomie. She gets advanced copies of books from Barnes and Nobles. This condo is full of new books. I am in heaven. I have about eleven books by my bed right now that I am trying to power through. I have not watched TV since I have been here, except once. The tennis match in Dubai.

My roomie gets the Tennis Channel. I am in heaven. Watched the men's final. David Ferrer lost to Novak Djokovic. I love David Ferrer. He was not playing his best tennis and consequently lost. Anyway, I can't believe I have the Tennis Channel now.

Monsoon Season in Tucson

Now I just need a job. Signed up with a temp agency, will start the process to sub teach, and have been applying to non-profits. There are four agencies who help refugees right here in Tucson. So have been applying.

Lastly, I hung out with Tim and Mary Saturday night. I met a guy named Ted. He is a filmmaker. And guess what? He volunteers with a couple of orgs that help the immigrants who are crossing over by leaving water and food. I told him I want to volunteer. Tucson summers are brutal and folks die out there.

I went to a meeting for Humane Borders Wednesday night. I signed up to go out to Three Points next Saturday. Three Points is out on the Tohono O'Odham Nation. I used to teach out there so know the area well. Unfortunately, the drug runners are going through there now making it a dangerous place.

I learned at the meeting on Tuesday Humane Borders is going down to Mexico via Sasabe. They said a big time director is shooting a documentary about border crossings and Humane Borders for HBO. Always thought this would make a great story. Wonder who it is.

A friend of Tim and Mary's bartends down at the swanky Marriot out at Starr Pass. She said she gabbed with Sam Mendes last week for about three hours. I asked her what he was doing in Tucson. she said, "shooting a film." Wonder if it is him. He is the director of American Beauty and Revolutionary Road .

The folks at Humane Borders asked if I wanted to come out on Tuesday. I sure would love to but my passport expired over the summer. It was on my list of "thing to do." Damn.

I stopped by the International Rescue Committee last Tuesday. I am going to a full day training today for volunteers. I will be a mentor to recently arrived refugee families. I will love this.

The volunteer coordinator told me that 45% of the refugees they are receiving are from Iraq now. Imagine that? We go and blow up their cities, and then accept them with open arms into our country when all they want to be is in their homes in their own country. Reminds me of the Vietnam era. We go in in slaughter and then invite them into our country.


Bisbee, AZ

Lastly, to my friends who read my blog, I am giving you all an open invitation to come out and visit. Best time of year would be spring or fall. I also love the monsoon season in the summer. But it is deadly hot and my English friends I think would melt.

I would love to show you my city and state. I took a drive out to Bisbee and Douglas last weekend. I will take you there. And depending on my work schedule, once I get a job, I will take you as far as the Grand Canyon. If work does not allow, then I'll give you a map. Just head north until you run into a giant hole in the ground.



Hotel Gadsden, Douglas, AZ


The first photo at the top of this post is Saguaro National Monument, West. It is not far from where I live. There is great hiking within minutes of my home.

The Hotel Gadsden Coffee Shop

And the Hotel Gadsden Coffee Shop and staircase are a sight to see. I had lunch in the coffee shop last weekend. A most excellent tuna melt with bacon. The two waitresses working in the empty coffee shop were very friendly... and bored. I learned that one lived on a ranch 15 miles outside Douglas. The other was 20 and married with a two year old daughter. Very sweet young women.


Hotel Gadsden Coffee Shop

The drive out there is full of wide open space and skies that go on for miles.

I have seen about a billion stars in the sky every night. One night last week Venus was shining so bright next to the moon. I have never seen her shine so bright.

I knew then that I have come home to where I belong. It has been a long journey. The journey still continues, but this time in the place where it all began.
Hotel Gadsden staircase, Douglas, AZ