.JPG)
Sonoran Desert, photo by Marlene H. Phillips
For the border state of Arizona, the year 2009 will be remembered for a marked decline in Mexican immigration to the United States, a trend many economists attribute to the loss of jobs in the still-struggling American economy. But here in the Sonoran Desert, 2009 will also be remembered as being possibly the most lethal year for the Arizona/Mexican border.
According to a report in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star, the number of bodies recovered in the Tucson sector of the Mexican border in fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 - September 30, 2009) was 206, the third highest ever recorded. But the article also shows that when comparing known deaths to apprehensions of migrants, 2009 was the most lethal year in history: the ratio for 2009 was 88 deaths to every 100,000 migrants apprehended, far higher than any other year. In comparison,the ratio in 1988 was 3 deaths for 100,000 apprehensions.
Underlying these statistics is the ongoing effort to beef up border security. The Obama administration, like the administrations preceding it, has taken a strong stand on cracking down on migrants crossing the Mexican border, adding a virtual fence of steel towers with infrared sensors, remote controlled cameras, radar, lighting and communications devices to the physical fences already in place. But the fact that deaths continue to rise against this backdrop of increased surveillance comes as no surprise to groups that moniter border fatalities. Isabel Garcia, head of the Tucson-based human rights organization Coalicion de Derechos Humano (The Human Rights Coalition), told the Nogales International Bulletin: "An increase of military and police-natured responses lead to more deaths. Even though less people are crossing, more people are dying.” The non profit organization No More Deaths/No Mas Muertes, also based in Tucson, has long believed that an increase in surveillance drives desperate people deeper and deeper into the desert, making survival more difficult; they reiterated that belief in their December 2009 newsletter: "The border blockade strategy has militarized the U.S./Mexico border, which drives migrants into remote desert regions." The group, bearing the motto 'Humanitarian Aid is Never a Crime,' recruits volunteers to illegally deposit water, food and blankets to help migrants survive the harsh Sonoran Desert, working with other border groups toward their goal "to end this needless death and suffering in the desert by providing humanitarian aid while advocating for a more humane and just reform of current immigration policies." When reporting on the number of deaths in the desert for 2009, the group made no effort to disguise their disgust with current immigration policies; their online article was titled: "A Border Success Story."
For most of the nation the U.S. Mexican border story is one of economics. For those of us who live in Tucson, Arizona the story goes beyond economics and becomes one of survival, as desperate men, women and children die in the desert we call home. Garcia feels "we have not seen the worst of it yet," leading me to wonder how high the toll must be before the rest of the nation takes notice.
Comments
Thank you for this article, Marlene. Another grim reality is the callous attitude toward those people who are so frantic that they leave their home country and travel through such a deadly desert. There must be a different answer than Sheriff Joe and virtual fences.
Ahhhh, those poor law breaking fellons. What can we do to help:( If you knew anything about the "true" Obama, you would know he's all for the illegals. It simply not yet the time to unleash that stage of the anti-American plan! Marlene, what is the chance that you are one of these "large city folks"? Ignorant to life outside the city and what mass migration of humans does to those in the path I'd assume. Not to mention mexicans outright disrespect of American culture, people and business. When you go to China, what language do you speak to do business with the "natives"? English, I should think not, you would be ridiculed and ran from the store. I didn't say the tourist section of China either, I said China. If you were a man I would slap the crap out you, hell if I was mexican it wouldn't matter what sex you are!
why should we allow illegals into our country? they do not come here to become Americans they come here for the benefits and freebies given out by the govt. they pay no taxes flood the hospitals and health care systems costing working Americans billions of dollars. where is the good in allowing illegals into our country, they hate whites amd it is their desire to kill us and reconquest the whole of south west of America back to mehico.racist militant hate groups like la Raza push to take control of the vote to implement their agenda. why would anyone want to see America turn into a 3rd world country like mexico is?
I'm glad that someone is taking notice of the humanitarian catastrophe on our border, but I have to say it's totally false to report that No More Deaths "recruits volunteers to illegally deposit water, food and blankets to help migrants survive the harsh Sonoran Desert." None of the articles/websites cited above support that claim. I would not participate in illegal activities. My volunteer training included clear instruction in legal protocols, given by a real live lawyer. I'm glad I live under a legal system that does not make humanitarian aid a crime. What the article might be referring to is an unresolved legal issue about "littering" on a specific area of land, the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. There's articles from the Catholic News Service and AlterNet that give background on this issue, linked on the No More Deaths website.
Making the statement that No More Deaths “recruits volunteers to illegally deposit water, food and blankets to help migrants survive the harsh Sonoran Desert” is a very damaging misstatement. NMD does not recruit volunteers for any illegal service. The recent jury decision, possibly the source of this misstatement, determined only the jug was illegal trash. That jury was not allowed to consider the contents, the water, but only the jug itself. Nor was the jury permitted to consider the intent of leaving the sealed jugs of water to save lives nor the fact that the defendant was carrying out an armload of trash when ticketed. The writer has tragically mischaracterized the humane efforts of No More Deaths volunteers. As an aside, NMD volunteers always carry out more trash than the sealed water jugs they leave behind.
Paul & David: I characterized NMD's activity as illegal because that is how it is characterized by authorities; since this story is rarely heard outside of this area, I wanted to make clear that NMD volunteers have been subject to arrest, fine and/or jail time. I should have properly characterized NMD's activity as 'considered illegal' since that is more accurate. I apologize for that misstatement, and in no way wish to demean or slander the work being done by NMD.
I fully support immigration of people from all backgrounds, just not illegal immigration. Follow the law and get in line behind the good immigrants that respect US laws. I simply want to record all who come in our country and illegal ways do no such thing and its beyond unfair to the law abiding immigrants.
Dear Marlene,
Please attend a No More Deaths training, and learn for yourself that the protocol we follow is within the law. Our federal government is in violation of international human rights for knowingly funneling migrants through remote areas of the borderlands, where many will die. The number of deaths has to be much larger than the numbers of bodies found, due to stepped-up militarization.
Jan in Phoenix
Keep the illegal aliens out of the USA.
Support your local Minutemen and Sheriff Joe!
The Examiner allows the use of derogatory terms on its website. The word Wetback is a derogatory term used for insulting Mexican. People who use such terms are racist and/or ignorant. Jose do you need to use such words to make a point?
Jose, Your statements are full of contradictions. Why use the word Wetback?
Why aren't these compassionate people lobbying the Mexican government to provide better for their own unwanted poor people, instead of trying to obstruct US sovereignty? These sanctimonious do-gooders just want more left-wing voters in the country, otherwise they'd show their courage and compassion by demonstrating for better government policies in Mexico.
Jose - Should we assume that you know that for many Mexican Americans, the w-word is the ugliest of epithets, on par with the n-word for African Americans. The term is used to disparage not only undocumented immigrants but also U.S. citizens of Mexican descent.
Demand that Congress ...
1- stop giving Mexico 1 billino $ in military aid
2- pass a bill immediately to get the U.S. out of the NAFTA treaty (this treaty hurts US and Mexican workers)
3- curb gun smuggling from US to Mexico (this will reduce the strengnth of the drug cartels)
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!