Dear Arizonans,

 

            Over the last two semesters I've studied migration at the local, national, and global levels.  From the history that established the border between the United States and Mexico to some of the current laws passed recently in an attempt to curb migration from the south.  I have studied what individuals across the globe are willing to endure to secure a future for their families and what people and governments are willing to do to keep them out and down.  What makes them seem so different from us?  why have we given into our fears?  Our government and governments around the world are spending millions and billions of dollars to keep migrants out. Is it worth it?  Are we any safer now?  Were we at risk to begin with?

            In Arizona we have seen a dramatic increase of people crossing the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona.  This is due to increased border security with operation Hold the Line in Texas and with operation Gatekeeper in California.  Many believed the Arizona desert would be a natural barrier, who would attempt to cross such a inhospitable environment?  Once those two operations were in full force the number of border crossers at the Arizona border ballooned to over 600,000.  Likewise the deaths in the desert have been calculated at over five thousand since 1994.

            Two deaths are constantly on my mind since the day I learned of them.  The first, is the death of Josseline, a 14 year old girl who was trying to make it to California and her family through the Arizona desert near Arivaca.  She died of exposure during the night in January 2008, when she fell sick the day before and could no longer keep up with the group.  The second, there is no name attached to the victim, only a white cross marking the location where the bones of an unknown adolescent was found within a 100 yards of a ranch in Green Valley, Arizona.  I have two teenage children myself and I cannot imagine under what circumstance I would be willing to allow them to cross one of the most inhospitable deserts in the world. However, if that were my only choice I would hope others would see them as fellow human beings and help them in their time of need.  These are not inanimate objects we are talking about, they are people.  No one should have to die for an opportunity.