No More Deaths/ No Mas Muertes is a humanitarian aid organization based in southern Arizona, their mission is to end death and suffering on the US/Mexico border. Representatives from No More Deaths (NMD) did a presentation in Denver on Feb. 2, 2013, at The Deer Pile (206 E. 13th Ave. Denver, Colo. 80203).
The representatives shared their experiences about providing humanitarian aid explaining that since the mid-1990s, at least 6,000 people have died trying to cross the US/Mexico border. NMD provides water, food, and medical aid to individuals crossing the Sonoran desert, they leave out water and supplies near migrant trails. On Jan. 10, 2011, hidden cameras caught a Border Patrol agent destroying water containers left on the trail. On Jan. 8, 2013, cameras caught another Border Patrol agent removing blankets near a trail during Arizona’s record low temperatures this year.
Residents in the border town Arivaca, Ariz., have complained about the frequent Border Patrol helicopter flyovers calling them an invasion of privacy. Border Patrol has been criticized for having a checkpoint north of Arivaca as well, citizens have complained about being harassed and searched illegally. NMD has documented more than 30,000 abuses of individuals in Border Patrol custody.
NMD is a volunteer-run organization, they are touring the US currently seeking to spread their message and gather volunteers to further their goals of providing aid for the humanitarian crisis that is occurring on the US/Mexico border.
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