Some Pictures

Migra... or Border Patrol... in the Middle of the Desert. When we walk into the desert on the Mexican side to the wall... well, drive for about a half hour, then walk... to get an idea of how long migrants walk.... the migra is there to see why we are there within about 15 minutes thanks to all of the camera towers in the desert. I am tempted to belittle the Border Patrol, but the truth is that they are an government organization that is caught in the middle of a broken system. Meanwhile our taxes pay for it all.... they need to buy new vehicles about every 6 months according to an officer I spoke to last week, due to desert wear and tear. Think SUVs + gas + always running + all along the border + paychecks + towers + ground radar + night vision.... and that doesnt even scrape the surface. Ouch.
This verse is on a wall I pass when I take the Ruletero (schoolbus turned city bus) across town. Its a constant reminder of why I am here.
These Crosses are part of a tuesday night vigil to remember those who have died crossing the desert. Hundreds of all ages in hopes of achieving the American Dream. It is sad to me to hold a cross with a name on it... of a real person... a son.. or daughter... with dreams and memories and loves... who lay dying alone in the desert. I don't care who you are or what you are doing. You don't deserve to die that way.
Another Beautiful sunset in AP.
This is part of the wall in the desert that crosses a riverbed. In the rainy season this is a raging river... hard to believe from what you see there. Every year the wall is washed out by the water. They try something new every year. Looks like this year they gave up and just put up steel beams. The impacts of the wall on nature have been horrible from animal migration to movement of water and destroying protected areas by bringing in all the wall making equipment. I have heard that under the wall there is around 10 feet deep of cement also. Tunneling is out. But as my friend Miguel from the CRREDA says "Nature doesn't want the wall separating people." Interesting thought.

This is the Sunset on Valentines day, "Dia de Amor y Amistad" (Day of love and friendship... I like it a lot better here!) from the roof of our apartment.This is the Wall in AP. There is about a 15 foot ditch on the other side of it. It is right along The road "International". I am on it daily taking my bike back and forth. It is not uncommon to see people jump it right there. The other night abound 12:30 Leisha and I passed 2 different groups of late teen age people in black prepping to hop it right there.
This is a Map of the desert outside Nogales. The red dots indicate where Human Remains or bodies were found in the desert- sometimes from being attacked, assaulted, robbed and murdered but most times because of dehydration.