The Human Rights Issue:
- Humanity for the Crossing
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Humane Borders volunteer Michael Oerhrtmann carries water in 110 degrees heat to one of the more than 50 sites Humane Borders services.
Photo by Alan Staats/Getty Images
Humanity for the Crossing
Some provide water, others education and advocacy. Individuals in border states are making human rights real.
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< 1 MIN READ
Mar 26, 2007
In the scorching heat of the Sonoran Desert, bright yellow Border Patrol signs bear a stern warning. The message, written in Spanish, translates to: “Caution! Do not expose your life to the elements. It’s not worth it!”
Since 1998, more than 2,000 Mexicans have died trying to cross the border. The leading causes of death are not unnecessarily violent law enforcement or car accidents, but heat stroke, dehydration, and hypothermia.
Working with other volunteers from , Mike Wilson of the Tohono O’Odham tribe leaves fresh water for those desperate enough to brave the desert crossing. Another grassroots organization called follows a similar mission, and also provides medical attention to those who need it.
These groups are part of a larger movement to end the hardship immigrant families must endure, both in their passage across the border and in their struggle to find equal rights once they arrive. Organizations like and work tirelessly to educate border residents about their human rights, and to ensure that their voices are heard by government representatives. and facilitate programs that promote sympathy and understanding between U.S. and Mexican citizens.
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