Border crosses: the 5-mile-long border fence dividing Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Mexico, is made of sheet metal and steel bars. Floodlights and surveillance cameras line the U.S. side. Rather than stopping illegal entry, the militarized border resulted in the deaths of at least 370 people in 2003.There have been more than 2,600 deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border since 1994 when the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. launched Operation Gatekeeper Operation Gatekeeper was a Clinton-era security operation on the United States–Mexico border near San Diego, California. According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the goal of Gatekeeper was "to restore integrity and safety to the nation's busiest border. , which militarized mil·i·ta·rize tr.v. mil·i·ta·rized, mil·i·ta·riz·ing, mil·i·ta·riz·es 1. To equip or train for war. 2. To imbue with militarism. 3. To adopt for use by or in the military. the border near San Diego. More than 400 deaths were reported in 2002. In November a "Border Pilgrimage" traveled from San Diego to El Paso, Texas, sponsored by interfaith, church, and humanitarian organizations and anchored by local Catholic dioceses en route. Stops in California's Imperial Valley, the California and Arizona border cities of Calexico, Tucson, Douglas, and Yuma, and the Mexican border towns of Agua Prieta and Mexicali brought home the harsh reality of the region. The deadly numbers were reinforced, again and again. In each of the communities of faith where the pilgrimage was received and given food and shelter, the pilgrims were told how religious and moral teaching instructs people to extend hospitality to those most in need. Along the border this means the migrants. Border crossers arrive at the door hungry, dehydrated de·hy·drate v. de·hy·drat·ed, de·hy·drat·ing, de·hy·drates v.tr. 1. To remove water from; make anhydrous. 2. To preserve by removing water from (vegetables, for example). , exhausted, and afraid--after having survived Mexican authorities, the Border Patrol, unscrupulous "coyotes" (who transport people for often-exorbitant payments), sickness, snakes, scorpions, and maybe even militia-like vigilantes vigilantes (vĭjĭlăn`tēz), members of a vigilance committee. Such committees were formed in U.S. frontier communities to enforce law and order before a regularly constituted government could be established or have real authority. out "migrant-hunting." In El Paso, "Ernesto," a 27-year-old Honduran man from Comayagua, had just arrived at the Annunciation Annunciation dove and lily pictured with Virgin and Gabriel. [Christian Iconography: Brewer Dictionary, 645] Elizabeth Mary’s old cousin; bears John the Baptist. [N.T. House of hospitality. He told of leaving his family in a desperate attempt to find a way to support his wife and children--impossible for him to do in Honduras with a salary of $50 per week. He was speaking at a podium on a low stage surrounded by many small white crosses with the names of migrants who have died in the crossing--some of them simply inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. "desconocido" (unknown). Ernesto was overcome with tears as he stood silently looking at the crosses. He said he was worried that he would never see his family again. He said he was grateful that, at least for now, one of those crosses didn't represent him. To learn more about the Border Pilgrimage, visit www.rtfcam.org/border/pilgrimage.htm. |
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