High risk for helping those crossing the southern border
by Deyva Arthur 
Green Party of New York State

Two volunteers were arrested taking illegal immigrants who were on the verge of death out of the desert and to the nearest hospital, said Claudia Ellquist, co-chair of Arizona State Greens.

This was just one way the federal government has treated humanitarian work as an illegal offense, she said. The Pima County Green Party has taken a stand against the administration and is supporting the organizations, Humane Borders and No More Deaths, in their efforts to help migrants crossing the Mexican-US border.

Cecilia Gutierrez (Left) and Sister Audrey Loher (Right) participate in the annual Memorial March for Migrants. Every year Humane Borders remembers the hundreds of migrants who die every year crossing over the US/Mexico border via the Arizona desert.  Photo Kent Brodie / Humane Borders

"More than ten years ago no one died. Then when NAFTA was created and the border wall was built, we had thousands of deaths in the desert," Ellquist said. Last year alone at the Tucson Sector border, 250 migrants died, mostly from dehydration. Ellquist said for the past decade at least 4,000 people died on the southern US border.

Arizona Greens have come out in strong support of organizations assisting border crossers, especially those entering the country illegally. Currently, Humane Borders and No More Deaths are facing accusations and legal proceedings from the federal government.

Humane Borders instituted a project nearly four years ago to put up water tanks in the desert along main migrant crossings to help stave off dehydration. The organization is allowed to use private and even public lands to house the tanks. Volunteers maintain and supply fresh water every day. Border patrol has even agreed not to watch areas near the tanks, although vigilante groups have been known to patrol these areas.

Humane Borders also started distributing maps of the crossings; highlighting the location of tanks, as well as where deaths occurred. They provided details of what travelers could expect crossing the border.

"Many migrants have no idea what kind of trip this is. They think it is an hour walk," said Ellquist. "Often they set out in sun dresses and tourist outfits because they want to fit in with Americans when they get there."

The Mexican government asked Humane Borders to distribute 40,000 maps within Mexico. Ellquist said the project was considered very successful. However, the head of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff issued a statement that Humane Borders was aiding and abetting terrorists coming into the US via the Mexican border.

Felipe Lundin, volunteer with Humane Borders fills a water station in the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near the US/Mexico border in Arizona. Photo by Kent Brodie / Humane Borders

It was at this point Pima County Greens felt compelled to step in. Since many Greens are active with various border-crossing projects, Ellquist said, this fact and the arrest of volunteers from No More Deaths reached such a crisis that the local chapter issued formal support.

It is against the law to transport illegal immigrants for any reason. Volunteers for No More Deaths go into the desert leaving food and looking for people in distress. Now more than ever, they are finding people in dire need of medical attention. Volunteers currently face federal prosecution for transporting migrants, even though the people taken to the hospital would have died had they been left in the desert.

In Arizona a campaign began which included lawn signs saying "Humanitarian aid is never a crime!" Tens of thousands of letters asked the judge to drop the charges. The judge, however, has refused to halt prosecution.

Ellquist said the Arizona Greens would like to make the problems of border crossing a focus at the Green Party National Convention, which is to be held this July in Tucson. "Down the highway from where the convention is happening is the border."

If any attendees to the convention would like to see the border first hand and discuss the problems and perils of border crossing, Ellquist said, the Pima County Greens could arrange tours. 

For more information contact: 
Pima County Greens at www.pimagreens.org or call them at (520) 798-6169.

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