KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-Offering Help Or Breaking The Law?

Offering Help Or Breaking The Law?

By Marianne Martinez, KOLD News 13
Posted: 7/23/04

A humanitarian group is walking a thin line while it's trying to stop illegal immigrants from dying in the Arizona desert.

The Border Patrol reports more than 80 immigrants have died since October.  Volunteers with the group No More Deaths have been offering food, water and medical care to illegal immigrants since May.

The Border Patrol says that's legal, but some of the groups other actions are not.

Other humanitarian groups offer aid by leaving water in the desert for migrants to find. But volunteers with No More Deaths are out in the desert 24/7 ready to give aid. The day starts with a sunrise over the desert landscape. In this isolated camp, volunteers prepare for their mission -- to offer food and water to migrants. They walk through the desert, on trails well worn by the feet of migrants. Along the way, volunteers Daniel Strauss and Diane Raab find shirts, hats, and empty water bottles left behind.

We're friends, they say. With food and water. Don't be afraid. But, some are afraid -- afraid to get caught.

Daniel and Diane see a group of migrants flee from this camp.  A temporary hiding place. They leave water and food.

"If I can come out here and find someone who's not doing well, who's having a tough time -- that's why we're here," Diane says.

Later, on another trail, Daniel and Diane see Abram, a migrant from mexico. He takes some food and water to the rest of his group.

We come here because we need to, Abram says.

"He was saying we're not criminals," Daniel says.  "We're just here to work and to support our families."

They continue on the trails, never knowing who they'll find. Just a few days ago, Daniel ran into a group of ten migrants.

"Everyone needed medical attention and respite care. And, they didn't want us to call Border Patrol -- and that's not what we do -- and we took them to South Side Presbyterian. And, they get met by nurses and doctors who take care of them."

This is the grey area of the law.  The U.S. Border Patrol says offering help is legal. In fact, No More Deaths met with the Border Patrol before they began the campaign.

"There is nothing wrong with providing humanitarian efforts to someone who may be in distress," says Border Patrol agent Andy Adame. "We feel there's a better way to handle the situation, but there's nothing illegal about that."

But Adame says transporting undocumented migrants -- even if it is for medical help -- can be interpreted as furthering their entry into this country. "Under the circumstances of picking them up and bringing them to a church, you're probably in violation of the law."

The Border Patrol argues providing aid encourages some migrants.

"They're giving the perception that there is water and there is food, so they make that trek," Adame says.  "That is partially the reason why we have so many deaths out here."

But, No More Deaths volunteers say migrants will come anyway. "You have to look at the humanitarian side of this. These are people coming to the U.S. to get work."

So far, volunteers have given aid to about 200 people and their efforts will continue through the hot summer months.