Humane Borders Trip Report

 

Ironwood Forest National Monument

Volunteers are asked to keep a running log of activities and experiences while on service trips. We are publishing an example here to help the public understand the nature of our service.

10-18-03: Too many bees on one tank, which prevented us from checking the water level.

10-16-03: Two faucets at Trico station were dripping. One was partly unscrewed with the faucet facing up. We tightened them.

10-15-03: About a mile from the water station, we encountered a group of approximately 35 migrants to whom we gave all our food packs. We washed and bandaged a young girls foot. The Border Patrol arrived after about 5 minutes and apprehended all of the migrants and handcuffed the driver of the vehicle. Three other Border Patrol agents arrived and said a bus was on its way and a tow truck for the coyote vehicle. We replaced three spigots at the Trico station and replaced the flag.

10-9-03: One tank smelled like gator aid. We flushed the tank and refilled with fresh water.

9-27-03: Found abandoned truck and retrieved registration papers. Took GPS location to report to authorities. Truck was abandoned with flat tires and damage caused by driving off the road. Looked like it came from the reservation and went off road by the water station.

9-10-03: Thirteen migrants assisted near Trico station. One 5-year-old girl and three women in group. All in good shape. Distributed all the food packs. Please refill the food box. Some of the group from Sinaloa and some from Veracruz. We also need water bottles with lids so we can distribute water from the truck.

9-5-03: Came across 9 male migrants. Gave food and water. We marked the off-road vehicle trails with orange tape in preparation for trash pick up day.

9-4-03: Replaced one faucet. Found 8 migrants ages 23-16 from Chiapas. They said they had spent four days in the desert and planned to be picked up near a power pole. We gave them food and water. We also met a power company inspector who gave us his dispatcher's telephone number. Someone answers 24/7 for emergency calls.

9-3-03: Silverbell Road is in very bad condition. Must take it slowly and carefully. One of the two welds is busted at the water station. Need to add spare spigots to the toolbox.

8-16-03: I prayed for an uneventful trip. You know, go out, put out water and come back. Well, since it has rained for the past three days, the road was very muddy. We got stuck and had to hand carry 5-gallon jugs to the water station a quarter of a mile away. Then we put branches under the tires, off-loaded most of our water and were able to get out. We met Samaritans and park rangers on the way.

8-24-03: Found a large camp and trash. Border Patrol had eight men in a pickup. We gave each food and water. Nineteen more being rounded up.

8-24-03: Road is too muddy, turned around. Nearly got stuck. Group consensus to clean truck and return home.

8-21-03: Our group has a suggestion - a net to secure full trash bags on the back of the truck would be very nice.

8-19-03: Picked up one big bag of trash near Trico. Picked up 8 bags near Silverbell. Found a whole encampment of where maybe 30 people had been.
8-15-03: Lots of empty water jugs on the road from the gate to the water station. We stopped at one campsite. Filled one bag with clothes, one bag with backpacks, 2 bags with trash. More backpacks and trash need to be picked up. We were out of room.
8-14-03: Intersection of Manville and Trico roads - spoke to the lone border crosser. He stated that approximately 20 crossers were picked up this A.M. north of the water station. He was the only one to escape. Wants to get to Minnesota. Group had paid coyote to be picked up at a power pole. We gave him food and water.

8-12-03: Picked up trash, backpacks, empty jugs, clothing. Picked up golf balls just west of gate at Mile Wide Road.

8-6-03: Must use 4-wheel drive when you leave the pavement. Silverbell road is in bad shape.

7-14-03: A lot of bees today. One nylon cap on one barrel needs to be replaced.

7-7-10-03: Encountered one migrant, age 25, slender, good shape. We provided water and food.

7-9-03: Bees swarming around the barrels.

7-9-03: Bees drinking at the cap.

7-2-03: On Avra Valley Road, we encountered three young Mexican men. They were very hungry but otherwise in good shape. We gave them food and fresh water. On the Little Ranch road one mile in from the Red Rock Road, we met a man in bad health, Salvador Rovledo-Sanchez by name. He was dehydrated, starved and his feet were so badly blistered that he could not walk any more. We persuaded him to allow us to transport him to St. Mary's Hospital. We decided to abort the water trip because besides the medical emergency, we were having tire trouble. We patched things together with a can of fix-a-flat.

6-30-03: Saw a cow with a calf, deer, birds, lizards, ground squirrels. Picked up lots of trash along the yellow tagged road.

6-25-03: Encountered group of 22 men and women. Gave them all the food we had on the truck.

6-19-03: I gave food and water to 15 people, men and women. They were happy to see us.

6-18-03: There is an abandoned vehicle near the water station.

6-13-03: Met Guatamalan migrant. Gave him food and water. He turned back to find a friend. Met one other guy.

6-10-03: Found billfold with ID for Eduardo Martinez Dominguez. Stopped to pick up trash. Saw migrants and gave water. Said they did not need food.

6-9-03: Flat tire near Little Ranch station. The jack was too short and we ruined it.

6-6-03: Saw two vans full of people driving away from the water station.

6-2-03: All three barrels destroyed at Trico Station. Parts of stands were .2 mile down the road.

6-1-03: Rattle snake resting under the dripping valve at Trico station.

5-23-03: One man walking north on Trico Road saw us coming and hid. We later picked up boots, jackets, socks, cans, and empty water bottles on the road. At Little Ranch station we picked up cans, clothes, shoes, underware and water bottles.

5-22-03: Lots of lizzards crossing the roads today.

5-20-03: Sticker on the water tank left by unknown visitor - "Help prevent desert deaths! Pass guest worker legistlation, enforce laws against hiring ellegals, stop aiding and rewarding illegal activity. You can make a difference."

5-14-03: Saw one migrant who ran away from us.