Samaritan COVID Precautions

Before going on a trip please review and agree to comply with these precautions.
Samaritan COVID Precautions

Death in the Desert
Tucson Sector:
Recovered Human Remains

Last Year:              144
This Year:              162
AUG 2021:  16
JUL  2021:  ​19
JUN 2021:   44
MAY 2021:  20
APR 2021:  13
MAR 2021: 18
FEB 2021:  14
JAN 2021:  18 

SW Border Encounters

Customs and Border Protection "encounter" (deportations of various kinds) numbers are here: 
Southwest Land Border Encounters | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)
​2021 YTD; 1,541,551
2020             458,088
2019:            977,509
2018             521,090

Volunteer Trainings are currently all virtual. 
Click to see videos of Zoom training sessions
email sam.southside@gmail.com when you have completed them for the next step

Donate supplies: 
Gallon water jugs, socks, food packs, first aid items, gasoline for desert trips, car repairs, all-terrain tires



 Tucson Samaritans Meetings
NO Tuesday night Meetings at Southside Presbyterian during Covid-19 pandemic starting March  until further notice.
Virtual meetings for members only.


Green Valley Samaritans

www.gvs-samaritans.org For information about Green Valley Samaritans.
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Human remains report 
August

The number of migrant deaths reported by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in August  was 16.

Recently found individuals grouped by PMI (Post Mortem Interval):
                5 dead less than a day
                1 dead less than 1 week
                1 dead less than 3 weeks
                4 dead less than 5 weeks
                1 dead less than 3 months
                1 dead less than 6-8 months      
                3 dead more than 6-8 months
Total:  16

Updates for previous cases:
                6 individuals newly identified by name (1,440 cases remain unidentified)

As with the last couple of months, the breakdown by PMI shows that most of the remains found in August were relatively recent, with more than half of the victims discovered within 5 weeks of death (in June and July more than half this were discovered within a week of death).

Historically, the number of deaths discovered in August varies quite a bit. This month's total of 16 is a little below the average of about 18 over the last 15 years. See the attached table to make further comparisons.

Again, as with last few months, deaths were spread widely along the border, from near Douglas in the east to the Yuma county line in the west (normally we do not receive reports of deaths discovered in Yuma County). A map with the August deaths is at https://humaneborders.info/latest/.

The total number of deaths currently recorded in the Humane Borders database stands at 3,753. To generate maps and data tables from your own custom queries you can consult their interactive mapping site at: https://humaneborders.info/
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                         For Immediate Release, February 12, 2021
Contact: Laiken Jordahl, (928) 525-4433, ljordahl@biologicaldiversity.org
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Video Seems to Show Border Wall Construction Ripping Through Jaguar Critical Habitat in Arizona
Bulldozing in Pajarito Mountains Appears to Violate Biden Proclamation Halting Construction

NOGALES, Ariz.— Video footage shared with the Center for Biological Diversity seems to show construction equipment leveling Arizona mountains in critical habitat for endangered jaguars, in an apparent violation of President Biden’s proclamation halting border wall construction. The footage was reportedly shot on Wednesday, Feb. 10, by members of the Tucson Samaritans, who shared it with the Center.
Read More...
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Press release: Border Patrol raids No More Deaths humanitarian aid camp

LETTERS FROM ICE DETAINEES EXPOSE DESPERATE PRISON CONDITIONS AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

THE LETTERS ARE desperate.
“Please, help us obtain our freedom. … It’s so dangerous these days, we find ourselves between life and death. We don’t want to be the victims of this ruthless virus, and here, in these conditions, really it’s just a matter of time.”
Read more...