Tucson roundup

Here's an overdue summary from the daily team log of our doings on the Tucson phase of this journey:

29 June--Friday

The team held its initial meeting at Sitting Tree Community, home to Rick & Kitty Ufford-Chase and several others in central Tucson. As of today the entire team takes up residence here for the duration of our time in Arizona. Late morning and afternoon meetings focused on basics... review of the BWD's goals, team roles, schedule/itinerary, logistics. Rick offered an overview of migrant advocacy history in the Tucson area and guided the goals discussion. Nuts and bolts details will be worked on over the course of the week end and thereafter. A "light and lively" put-all-our-stuff in the trunk exercise revealed that we do not need a car top carrier!

30 June-- Saturday

Our first day in the field: we left at 8 for Nogales, the Mariposa port of entry. The state of Sonora has a respite station for returned migrants, and No More Deaths provides volunteer support. There is food, water, and medical attention, and most important, shade. While we were there a Wackenhut bus dropped off about 35 migrants, men and women, mostly in their 20's or even their teens. The Border Patrol picks them up, takes their names, and sends them back with their possessions and their shoelaces in a plastic bag (see Haven's poem for more on shoelaces). They were tired and hungry and thirsty, so we helped serve them. Two needed medical attention. One had scratches all over his cheek where he had fallen, but only superficial. The other had a sprained ankle, swollen and black and blue. We were told that 1000 people per day are returned at this one point. It was a disturbing reminder that our "land of freedom " is not welcoming.

That afternoon, we drove over dusty roads to the NMD Camp Ark in the desert. We were met by Steve Johnston and other volunteers and by 4 pm were on our way on evening patrol. We split into two groups and walked the trails to see if there was anyone in need. It was hot and rugged, but we carried water and migrant packs to drop off along the way. Indeed there was one man from Phoenix who was quite dehydrated and exhausted from several days of walking. It was clear that his life would be at risk if we left him alone in the desert, so we made sure that he would be safe.

1 July--Sunday

The day dawned clear and hot. The team attended worship at Southside Presbyterian, Rick's home congregation. Mark Adams of Frontera de Cristo (a binational Mexican/U.S. ministry) preached and served communion. We enjoyed lively singing with a beautifully diverse congregation and led a short litany, after which the church prayed for us and blessed us on our journey.

After lunch with the Ufford-Chases, the team left for the No More Deaths orientation for new volunteers. The training covered civil initiative, border history and culture, legal considerations, health and safety in the desert, and understanding privilege. The highlight, after Rick's hassle line, was the ice cream at break!

In the evening team meeting, we revisited our goals and, after a few revisions, agreed that they are pretty darn good for now:

1. Put a human face on immigration, first for CPT's constituents, and as possible, the broader public.
2. Clarify and deepen CPT's role along the border.
3. Meet with legislators and church-related organizations to share stories of the crisis in the borderlands and immigrant communities, especially in light of the recent inaction by the Congress.

We also assigned team roles. We leave Tucson for Las Cruces at 8 am tomorrow.