Yuma, Arizona (MJP)
Through some of the most treacherous landscapes along the U.S.-Mexico Border, hundreds of undocumented individuals risk everything to reach the United States annually.
In the Arizona desert alone, at least ninety people have perished this year while trying to cross the border illegally.
An estimated one-third of these fatalities were caused by heat, according to the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, which keeps tabs on these cases.
Border Kindness volunteers are leaving potentially life-saving goods in the desert in the hopes that they can avert the deaths of migrants.
This organization’s mission is to assist migrants and their families in obtaining necessary resources and navigating the asylum process. Additionally, they have a water drop crew that goes along the border of California and Mexico once a week.
James Cordero, an eight-year veteran of the water drop organization, explained that they traverse a vast area, from the mountains of San Diego County to their current location near the Arizona border, and leave food, drink, and clothing, depending on the season.
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The Yuma sector of the United States Border Patrol is responsible for patrolling the territory between California and Arizona, therefore on Saturday, Cordero and around eight volunteers made the three-hour trek eastward to that boundary.
To cover more area, they divided into smaller groups. The volunteers set out into the desert with rucksacks full of supplies.
Proclaiming, “We have water, cans of food, hats for the sun,” volunteer Luis Osuna delivered the necessary supplies.
With all the materials he could fit in his backpack, Osuna set out.
“More than anything else, our goal is to ensure that these life-saving items are accessible to people,” stated Osuna.
The desert is somewhere Osuna aspires to visit at least twice monthly, according to him.
“Our sole purpose out here is to avert one fatality at a time. “Because a single death can have a profound impact on someone’s loved ones and future generations,” Osuna stated.
Highs of 110 degrees Celsius have been recorded. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, volunteers have said that this is precisely when the supplies are required.
“We could be out here when it’s a lot cooler… but that definitely won’t be necessary,” Cordero stated.
Cordero mentioned that they begin making plans for water drops several weeks before the start of summer.
“As soon as the temperature begins to rise. There’s a limit to how far we can hike in the summer, so that’s when we start making plans and schedules, according to Cordero.
The majority of it, according to Cordero, is simply establishing test drop locations and leaving supplies there. They will return in a month or two to assess if anything has been stolen and proceed accordingly.
Cordero searched for footprints on Saturday while hiking.
We can tell this is a popular crossing because there’s an extra water bottle over here. “We want to make sure we’re helping the environment as much as possible, so we collect this plastic,” Cordero explained.
Things left behind were clothes, a bag, and water bottles, which he discovered. All of these things hint at the fact that someone passed through this location.
The only people present in this place at this time, according to Cordero, are migrants passing through, himself, and the border patrol.
The number of migrants caught trying to cross the southern border illegally fell for the fifth month in a row in July.
According to border officials, the reduction is a result of the tougher limitations imposed on asylum applicants by Biden’s executive order in June.
For Cordero, the policy is still in its infancy, so drawing any conclusions is premature.
“If this were to persist for an extended period, then it would be possible to compare previous years to this one and observe the change,” Cordero remarked.
The CBP One app, which allows users to request asylum, is still being heavily promoted by border officials.
Unfortunately, not everyone can find a way to gain legal status in the US. Consequently, people travel to these outlying areas between ports of entry. Crossing canals when swimming,” Cordero said.
Cordero stated that organized crime south of the U.S. has significantly altered foot circulation along the border.
This means they need to be more deliberate about where they stash their supplies.
People are crossing the line without authorization. We are actively searching for potential locations to drop supplies and attempting to determine the direction of the march,” Cordero stated.
While temperatures stay in the triple digits, Cordero stated that they are concentrating on targeting important drop points. Nevertheless, they will carry on with their tasks far into the winter.
What we do is effective, and we know it. As long as goods are available, people will use them, and casualties will decrease, according to Cordero.
Their weekly water drops are funded in part by donations to Border Kindness, according to Cordero. Volunteers who are physically and mentally prepared to go over deserts and mountains are also needed.
“Caring for a stranger is one of the most revolutionary acts a person can do,” Cordero stated, emphasizing that the focus is on treating others with compassion.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
