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Organization Gives Hope to Border Crossers

Monday, 19 April 2010 22:52

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Many Arizonans don't agree with the border enforcement policies and Arizona laws regarding immigration. No More Deaths (NMD) is an organization in Arizona, run by volunteers, whose sole mission is to end the death and suffering on the U.S.-Mexico border, according to NMD spokeswoman Sarah Launius.

NMD has a desert aid program set up to give direct aid to migrants traveling in Southern Arizona. "Our main camps are located in Arivaca," says Launius.

There are supply drop areas near busy trails that drop off storage boxes year round. The boxes contain various items such as clean and dry socks, food, and diapers.

"We are working to try and get water accessible to the migrants on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge," says Launius.

Also, NMD volunteers run patrols. The patrols drive out from the camps in four-wheel drive vehicles searching for migrants in distress. The patrols carry around food, water and medical supplies. 

Since NMD does not actually own its own migrant aid station in Mexico, the organization partners with multiple groups along the border that operate their own facilities. The partnerships allow NMD to help deportees throughout Nogales, Naco, and Agua Prieta–Douglas, said Launius.

The U.S. Border Patrol returns the border crossers to the ports of entry, which is also where the migrant aid stations are located. At the ports of entry, NMD volunteers are able to interview the migrants to find out their stories. In some cases, the people were prayed upon by bandits, says Launius.

NMD volunteers work all year long in the migrant aid stations. The organization has found that because of the border enforcement policies, the migrants tend to travel through the mountain ranges. Even though the mountain ranges allow border crossers to stay away from the border patrol, it's also a much more dangerous road to travel.

Keep scrolling to view videos and see a map of the different NMD aid stations.

 

Launius describes her most memorable experience, while volunteering for No More Deaths:

To see more of what No More Deaths does on a daily basis, look below at a slideshow of pictures provided by the organization:

More of my interview with Launius:

Here are the locations of the different camps and aid stations No More Deaths has set up along the border, as well as information centers in Tucson and Phoenix:


View NMD Aid Stations and in a larger map

 

 

Written by Christina Stymfal You are reading Organization Gives Hope to Border Crossers articles

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