​Our work in the desert this year:                    As of 8/10/22   
This Month    This Year
​Field Trips to the desert           51             273
Water Gallons given out        510          3063
Migrants Encountered               121            290
Crosses placed                           11               85

RECENT NEWS

More migrants coming through Mexico from far-flung countries:
analysis By Mark Moore
August 30, 2022 7:26pm
nypost.com/2022/08/30/migrants-from-far-flung-countries-leading-us-border-surge/

Thousands of migrants are pouring into NYC from Texas, straining a shaky shelter system. When will it hit a tipping point?Josephine Stratman
8/31/2022 7:00am 
www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/thousands-of-migrants-are-pouring-into-nyc-from-texas-straining-a-shaky-shelter-system-when-will-it-hit-a-tipping-point/ar-AA11iELb  

Biden’s border policies ignore the reality of illegal immigration
By Mark Krikorian  August 30, 2022 9:07pm
nypost.com/2022/08/30/bidens-border-policies-ignore-the-reality-of-illegal-immigration/

More News Items On the LEARN MORE page

 Tucson Samaritans Meetings
Tuesdays -   7pm on ZOOM except
In person the 1st Tuesday of the month
Contact:  sam.southside@gmail.com

Sister Organizations
​Ajo Samaritans 
http://www.ajosamaritans.com/  

Green Valley Samaritans 
​www.gvs-samaritans.org.
​
Casa Alitas  www.casaalitas.org/

Casa De La Esperanza in Sasabe Sonora
 www.salvavision.org/sasabe/
PLEASE DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR WORK

Recovered Human Remains report 
As of July 31, 2022
The number of migrant deaths reported by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in July 2022 was 30.  Total deaths recorded since records began is 3939. 

Recently found individuals grouped by PMI (Post Mortem Interval):
  6 dead less than a day
  5 dead less than 1 week
  3 dead less than 3 weeks
  4 dead less than 5 weeks
  2 dead less than 3 months
1 dead less than 6-8 months
  9 dead more than 6-8 months
Total: 30

Updates for previous cases:
        8 individuals newly identified by name
(1493 cases remain unidentified)

Current Maps are available in our Learn More - Death In the Desert Tab

We have a special opportunity for YOU to join our community in advancing the fight for justice by sponsoring or attending our Quinceañera!
About this eventThe SWC was established in 2006. This year, we are hosting a (one-year delayed) Quinceañera fundraiser!SWC is a community service program of the Southside Presbyterian Church. Our members tout the center as a place all can come and be welcome. They are proud of what they’ve accomplished, including establishing an expectation with day laborer employers that SWC members must earn at least $20/hour, increasing to $25/hour by December.
Join us for a night of dancing, laughing, and honoring the foundation of our city, its workers. Tickets are based on a sliding scale. Please purchase a ticket at the level you can comfortably afford. General Admission tickets range from $25-$100.

What to expect:The night will go just like any other Quinceañera. If you have not been to one YET, learn more about the tradition on this web page.We will have beer and wine* available for sale and serve traditional quinceañera fare**.Childcare will be provided with the purchase of a child(ages 1-12) ticket.*All sponsor packages include drink tickets, additional drinks may be purchased with cash or card the night of the event.
**Dinner is included in the price of admission.

​
YA BASTA! – ENOUGH!
ARIZONA COMMUNITIES SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE LIES AND MISINFORMATION
Political campaigns must stop their overt racism in their ads
TUCSON – Southern Arizona communities are appalled at the level of racism and abject lies around migration, and specifically, our US/Mexico border, being displayed by campaigns for political office. As members of community organizations, faith-based, labor, and social justice groups, we are deeply alarmed and concerned with the hate, bigotry and violence against our immigrant communities that have become a “must-go-to” political scapegoat.
Campaigns for elective office are expected to be about how to better our lives, from the on-going drought and other impacts of the changing climate, to the urgencies facing the public schools, yet these political campaigns have decided that migrant and Mexican-bashing is the key to their election. Blaming our brothers, sisters, and families, many of whom are fleeing dangerous situations created by our own government, has resulted in a convenient target to enhance their campaigns.
Without actual knowledge about the border nor of the rich, yet painful, history around the establishment of our current border, these narratives that demonize migrants and Mexicans have filled our television screens for over two months in the run-up for the primaries in August. Resorting to outright lies that we are being invaded, to frightening imagery, these political TV and sign ads have continued to poison the political discourse, damaging our community and our entire state. From the image of a woman locking her door in dark shadows while the narrator compares it to our border and eliciting fear, to shadowy imagery of people rushing the border, and the newest signs stating “no trespassing zone, violators will be prosecuted,” all elicit fear based on lies and xenophobia.
We call for an acknowledgment of the historic and continuing contributions made by immigrants who have answered the call for cheap labor for generations, providing the economic lifeline and cultural diversity that have enriched all of us.
We call on those who are running for office to speak out against bigotry and racism, and show respect for human rights to everyone including our immigrant communities.
We call on our elected officials in the city, county, and state offices to speak out as well and show their respect and support of immigrant communities, including the full protection of civil and labor rights. It is also very important that they oppose the continued militarization of our borderlands that causes great damage to the environment, harms Indigenous Peoples and directly causes hundreds of migrant deaths every year.
We call on people of conscience and those who care about justice in our community to rise up and resist the culture of hate, racism and bigotry and join us to organize and work for equality, justice and true democracy.
STOP THE HATE ADS NOW

You are welcome to take this statement to other organizations in Southern Arizona for endorsement. Just let us know so all the organizations can be listed as endorsers as the campaign unfolds.
ya_basta_v2.pdf
​​

Volunteer Trainings are currently all on video.
To view training,  email sam.southside@gmail.com for access.
After you complete the training,
Email us again when you have completed them for the next step.
We require all volunteers to be vaccinated in order to protect each other and anyone we may encounter in the desert.