So why should this matter to me and what can I do?

The situation on the US-Mexico border is not showing much sign of improvement. Tens of thousands of people continue to cross the desert every year, and hundreds die, often in the most terrible and painful way possible. Poverty in Mexico, as well as the current drug violence, continues to force hundreds of thousands to make such a journey. The criminalization of migrants continues, as well as privatization of it. More and more reports of abuse by BP are being reported.

Drug violence, committed by real criminals, is beginning to spill over from Mexico into the United States. Economic and social problems such as the loss of jobs and crime are blamed on the migrants, and they are a very easy scapegoat.


So why should I care?


I want to preface the next sections by saying that I am not representing No More Deaths in what I am writing, but my own views and experiences and beliefs.


First of all, God loves these people. The cries and tears and blood and sweat being spilled in the desert does not go unnoticed by Him. The Bible says that salvation is only possible by believing in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins. He is the Son of God, through Whom God lived among us, died for us, and rose from the dead for us. Jesus said that whatever is done to "the least of these" (ie the hungry, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the naked) is done to Him. He also told us to hunger and thirst, and if necessary, to suffer for righteousness (justice). The plight of the men, women and children suffering and dying in the desert is His priority, and they are important to Him, even if not to others. If we believe in Him, Scripture tells us that we must live out our faith or it will be dead. Matthew 25:31-49 makes it very very clear what the implications are for choosing to close one's eyes. Those who close their eyes and ears to the suffering of other human beings and reject them, have rejected Him.

Secondly, these are our brothers and sisters in humanity. Regardless of one's religion or beliefs or worldviews, it should not be difficult to see that the fact that innocent men, women and children have been made poor and forced to leave their homes by trade policies over which they have had no control; the fact that they suffer and die from dehydration and heat and flooding and snake bites and bandit attacks; the fact they are rounded up like cattle and often denied water and food and medical care and are sworn at and abused and beaten; the fact that men and women who have been working in the US for years and have not committed crimes are separated from their wives and husbands and children; the fact that these human beings are suffering so much only because they are undocumented and poor........... it does not matter what background you come from, what you believe or don't believe, which party you vote for at election time if any... THIS IS WRONG!!!!!!! What is happening is evil. It is unjust. It is unfair. It is barbaric. You wouldn't want this to be happening to your loved ones.

Thirdly, they would not be in this situation if we hadn't allowed our leaders to do this to them. Canadians, I am writing to you as well. Don't forget that NAFTA was signed by not two, but three, countries. Canadian and American leaders, with approval from the most of us, or at least silent acquiescence, signed NAFTA with a Mexican government that perpetrated and continues to perpetrate human rights abuses and is involved in corruption- a trade deal that destroyed millions of Mexicans' lives by destroying the corn and coffee farmers, and driving down wages in a country that was already poor to begin with.

Fourthly, do not forget the lesson that history often repeats itself. A famous German pastor once wrote the following poem, after surviving imprisonment in the Dachau concentration camp during the Second World War.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.



The fourth reason I cite should be the weakest one; we should be involved in working for justice regardless of whether or not we will ever have to face the oppression others are facing.

There are many more reasons why what is happening here is important, these are just some that came to my mind first.

What can I do?


Here are some ideas. I list them, unlike the previous ones, in no order of importance. I believe they are all equally important.

1. Support NMD and other groups working for justice on the border.

Groups like No More Deaths are always looking for support.
If you can go volunteer with them, do that. Our presence in the desert and the water drops may not seem like a lot, but to someone who is starving or severely dehydrated it may be a difference between life and death. The partnering in Nogales provides food, shelter, and support to people who have been recently deported and often have nothing. It also means the compilation of abuse reports and unveiling the violations that happen; God willing enough of an outcry will lead to changes in BP enforcement and practices.

I can also say that the people you will come across in No More Deaths are some of the friendliest, most caring, most helpful, most intense people you will meet who truly care about social justice for the people we are standing in solidarity with. I have not met one person out in the desert who I would not consider to be a best friend. In all honesty, the friendships you will make at camp will probably last you for life.

Maybe you can't physically go and volunteer with No More Deaths, or simply don't want to. You can send money or socks and clothing and GPS' and make other donations.

Maybe No More Deaths isn't your cup of tea. That's OK. You can support other groups doing similar work, like Derechos Humanos, Frontera de Cristo, Humane Borders, Samaritans. These are only some of many. Google each of these organizations and see how you can plug in. And no one will turn you away if you are not an American. Canadians, Australians and I am sure a wide variety of others have served with No More Deaths and these other groups I have listed. Justice is not a national thing.

2. Learn about your country's corporate and trade policies and how they relate to people in Mexico, as well as other developing countries in South and Central America, and the world. Research whether these agreements benefit or harm farmers, workers, planters, the indigenous peoples. Make sure that mining companies based in your country are conducting business in a fair and just manner with the people on whose land they work overseas and who labour in their factories. Call on your governments to ensure that trade deals are fair trade deals and that our corporations are held to the same standard in these places as they are to where we live.

3. Confront racism and xenophobia in your community. Remember that we are all equal.

4. Pray for justice and work for it. Be His hands and feet in our world.

G4S Wackenhut

G4s Wackenhut is a private security company that operates in various parts of the United States of America and Canada, as well as other parts of the world. In Winnipeg, you can see their G4S logos on the armoured cars that drive money between banks. Nothing wrong with that, if it is public money it should not be stolen. I am not sure about security measures they take to keep it out of the hands of private bankers, but that's not the issue.

In Arizona, G4S Wackenhut use their services to transport migrants en-masse back into Mexico. Border Patrol agents bring in dozens of people and dump them into these buses. Sometimes they sit there for a few minutes, sometimes a few hours. Depends on when the buses leave to Mexico. The corporation has also ran several prisons in the US, after being contracted by the government. There have been allegations of abuse in these detention centres.

NMD policy is to stop by these buses and ask the drivers if there are any migrants inside, and if so, can we offer them water and food. In several instances in the past, the drivers have said yes, and have passed down these things to the people inside. Today, we talked with three grey shirted people with the company logo on their uniform, they refused to answer whether there were people in the bus and told us to contact their superiors. We did not see anyone in the buses, although we weren't sure because the windows are darkly tinted. I hope they were empty.

What was interesting was the fact that the bus was unmarked. The logo was not on its side, unlike other times. The last time I was in Arizona, they were clearly marked with the company logo. I don't know why they were hiding it. I think it is disturbing when private corporations take part in law enforcement, especially if the enforcement targets innocent people.

God's creation (nature)

We went on some hikes yesterday and today to look for migrants on trails, as well as did some water drops. The nature in Arizona is absolutely beautiful. God is great.

It is also however terrible how American and Canadian trade and border policies have helped make it a mass graveyard for thousands of innocent Mexicans and people from South and Central America.

His gift of life and beauty has been perverted to a place of suffering and pain and death.

Some other NMD volunteers

G, our media co-ordinator and one of the members of the media team. The media team may be invisible sometimes to the volunteers but they do a great job in getting the word out as to what is happening here.


C. She was one of the people who held down Byrd Camp for a few days when there were few people there. A great person to work with.



R. I got to know her a bit, we drove to camp together and went back to Tucson together. She is studying anthropology and film making but instead of making blockbusters, she is using her skills to raise awareness to human rights issues and give a voice to people who are often deprived of it.

Reverend John Fife

One of the founders of the Sanctuary Movement and No More Deaths. John's ministry has to a large part included working for righteousness and looking out for "the least of these". He is a great guy, an amazing speaker and a true Christian who lives out his faith in Jesus Christ. I wrote more about him and Jean previously when describing the Sanctuary Movement and our training. God bless him and may there be more pastors and priests like him in our world.

Leaving Nogales

July 28

A few hours later, we left the Mexican side. We walked past the American checkpoint, where we were stopped and our passports inspected. The Customs officer, after noticing I was Canadian and with NMD people, pulled me aside and took me into the building. I told him I was with No More Deaths, because I was curious about the situation on the border and about the fact so many people are dying.

I was taken to a small office with dimly lit lights, and was told to stay there while they do a ‘background check’ on me. He took my passport and driver’s identification. My friends were told to leave, of course they refused, and stayed outside the building. I was a bit nervous, but also knew that I do not regret anything I've done with NMD and would do it again. I began praying.

After a few minutes, the officer came back and told me I can go. He noticed my cellphone, which I tried to text the volunteer co-ordinator with to let her know what was going on. He looked very angry and loudly told me to never have it on again, and that he doesn’t want to see it again. It was a bit intimidating, but nothing compared to what migrants face.


People queuing up at the US Customs, waiting to enter the United States. This is where I was briefly detained.

Separation barrier

I took these pictures from the American side. The white BP trucks standing by the fence are waiting for people who will try to come across.