Aiexpress – Arizona is a destination for migrants from all over the world who are seeking to enter the United States by crossing breaches or gaps in the border wall. This area is characterized by a rugged landscape, with steep hillsides, dirt roads, cows, cacti, and desert shrubs.
If you explore deep enough into this section of the U.S. southern border, you’ll not only come across the towering Trump-era wall, but also witness construction crews diligently repairing sections of the wall that have been damaged by erosion or smugglers. Additionally, scattered throughout the area, you’ll find abandoned items such as clothes, blankets, and other belongings left behind by migrants. On a more hopeful note, volunteers work tirelessly to maintain water stations in order to prevent tragedies in the unforgiving desert.
Sasabe, the closest community to the U.S., is a small hamlet with just 51 residents, as reported by the Census Bureau. This quaint town boasts an official port of entry, allowing for legal travel between Mexico and the United States. In Sasabe, you’ll find modest residences, a post office, and a charming store that offers a variety of items, from burritos and cowboy hats to unique souvenirs. Among the intriguing merchandise are t-shirts that humorously ask the question on many visitors’ minds: “Where the hell is Sasabe?”
In southern Arizona, there lies a secluded region between the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation and a highway that links Tucson with Nogales, Mexico. This particular area, nestled amidst the vastness, has gained notoriety as one of the busiest spots for Border Patrol apprehensions in recent months. It has witnessed a significant influx of migrants entering the U.S. unlawfully.
Despite facing miles of border wall, dangerous Mexican cartels, and harsh terrain with extreme temperatures, migrants have been successfully crossing into the Tucson sector of Arizona in large numbers every day. Many of them rely on the assistance of smugglers to navigate these challenges.
According to federal government statistics, the Tucson sector has experienced over 250,000 migrant apprehensions during the initial four months of fiscal year 2024, surpassing all other regions patrolled by Border Patrol. Although illegal crossings into Texas have decreased compared to last year, the Tucson and San Diego sectors have continued to witness a significant number of apprehensions, accounting for 60% of all migrant apprehensions.
In the Tucson sector, there are two distinct categories of migrants who cross the border illegally: those who willingly surrender to Border Patrol agents, often with the intention of seeking asylum in the United States, and those who aim to enter the country covertly, without getting caught.
In the remote regions, the initial batch of individuals frequently encounter extended waiting periods and have to trek for hours upon entering the United States before they can approach Border Patrol agents. In such instances, the efforts of American volunteers serve as a crucial support system.
Maria not only received medical attention but also was provided with water and food at a migrant camp located more than a dozen miles east of Sasabe. This camp, established by American volunteers, offers various amenities such as resting tents for migrants, a makeshift kitchen where volunteers prepare ramen soup, and a pantry stocked with essentials like water, peanut butter, refried beans, canned sausages, and tuna. The camp also ensures that blankets are available to combat the sharp drop in temperatures during the night and early morning hours.
Volunteers have shared that the camp aims to serve as a basic respite center for weary migrants who await Border Patrol agents. However, they have also noted that some migrants have had to spend the night at the facility.
Volunteers said that migrants often simply desire to encounter a friendly face.
Gail Kocourek, a volunteer with Tucson Samaritans, one of the U.S.-based groups offering support to migrants near Sasabe, described the heartwarming scenes when migrants reach America. She shared how they would embrace and shed tears of relief, exclaiming, “thank God, we’re in America. We’re safe now.”
Among the migrants at the camp with Maria, there were individuals from various parts of Latin America. However, it’s not just limited to Latin American countries. People from far-flung nations like Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, the Palestinian territories, and Senegal also make their way into the United States through this area. Kocourek shared that she has encountered migrants from these diverse backgrounds recently.
“We’re not facilitating. We’re simply assisting individuals in staying alive,” she emphasized.
According to Erin Waters, a spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection, the agency has shifted its manpower in southern Arizona to handle the growing influx of migrants who are seeking to surrender themselves to U.S. officials.
According to Waters, heartless smugglers persist in transporting large groups of vulnerable migrants across the border, even in the harsh winter weather conditions of snow and rain. These migrants are forced to traverse through remote areas along the southern border without adequate clothing, supplies, or shelter. However, once the Border Patrol becomes aware of their presence, they prioritize providing humanitarian assistance to these abandoned migrants, ensuring their well-being in the cold environment.
Maria explained that she traveled to the United States because of the worsening economic and security situation in Ecuador. The country has been grappling with increased violence, largely linked to drug trafficking cartels. Additionally, Maria longed to be reunited with her husband and children in Wisconsin, whom she hadn’t seen for five years.
Maria expressed her deep sadness as she tearfully shared, “The absence of my family is truly heartbreaking.”
After spending a few hours at the camp, Maria and the rest of the migrants were apprehended by Border Patrol agents. They were then transported in vans to a nearby processing facility where Border Patrol conducts security screenings on migrants. The purpose of these screenings is to determine whether they should be deported, transferred to another agency, or released with a court notice. The specific details of Maria’s processing remain unclear.
