Arizona physician discusses crisis at the border with Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats of Sussex County recently raised $6,200 in support of No More Deaths/No Mas Muertes, a humanitarian organization dedicated to ending death and suffering in the borderlands.
The event, held Oct. 27 at Epworth UM Church Fellowship Hall in Rehoboth, began with the film "Let Them Have Water," which documents the work of the volunteers who go into the desert to save lives and recover human remains.
Sara Vazquez, M.D., family medicine physician, then joined the program via Skype. A medical aid volunteer for No More Deaths, Vazquez provided personal experience as she commented on a slide presentation that showed the humanitarian work of volunteers in the desert and the government’s militarization of the border.
A GPS map of migrant deaths between 1999 and 2018 graphically illustrated the scope of this humanitarian crisis. According to a NYT article of Dec. 18, 2018, “Some 8,000 people attempting to enter the United States have died in this region since the 1990s.Their shoes, empty water jugs and abandoned rosaries litter the landscape.”
Vasquez also talked about the increased risks and challenges for both migrants and desert aid workers because of current governmental policies. She described the tactics that force migrants into the most remote areas of the desert, and the government’s policy of criminalization of humanitarian work.
In the past two years a number of volunteers for No More Deaths have faced misdemeanor charges of abandonment of property and driving in a refuge without a permit. Vazquez noted “the abandoned property was water and canned food left for desert crossers.” All have been convicted and fined.
Vazquez stressed the significance the case of Dr. Scott Warren, a college professor of geography, who was tried in June for felony charges of conspiracy and harboring. Warren faced 20 years in prison, if convicted. That trial ended in a hung jury.
The U.S. Justice department decided to retry Warren on the felony harboring charges and his second trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 12. If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison.
Vazquez concluded with thoughts about the government’s prosecution of Warren. “Regardless of the outcome of Warren’s trial, the desert aid volunteers will continue their work to save lives and end suffering.” She reiterated the group’s belief that ‘humanitarian aid is never illegal.’
She thanked the attendees from the ‘border state of Delaware’ and told them how encouraging it is “to know that despite all the adversity that people face in this world, we are facing it together.”
Joanne Cabry of Progressive Democrats of Sussex County is grateful to all who made the event a success. She believes people were moved by Vazquez’ presentation. “When you hear that a person dies because they cannot walk any longer because of blisters on their feet, you realize the stark reality of life and death for illegal border crossers. When a jug of water or a pair of shoes and socks will save a life, you want to help.”
No More Deaths staff member Celia Bavier wrote: “This is an amazing donation and we cannot thank you enough. You have no idea how much it lifts us to know that folks from across the country are there with us in this fight.”
For information on hosting a similar event, contact Cabry at sussexprogressives@gmail.com.
To donate or learn more about the work of No More Deaths visit www.NoMoreDeaths.org
