NEW GROUPS FORM TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SOUTHWEST BORDER CROSSERS While conflict between ranchers and migrants has been the most covered human interaction along the border, not all residents see undocumented immigrants as a threat to be dealt with through violence. A growing number of area residents are giving humanitarian assistance to migrants, possibly risking imprisonment for their compassion. Harboring and transporting undocumented immigrants can be punished by up to 10 years in prison and fines of more than $250,000.
Along with actions by individual residents, the humanitarian crisis along the southwest border, a crisis that has claimed the lives of almost 60 people this year, has prompted the creation of new assistance groups. Many of these groups, run by members of the clergy, are reminiscent of the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s. The Sanctuary Movement assisted people fleeing wars in Central America, providing assistance as well as organizing a sort of underground railroad to help the immigrants reach safety. Many members of the movement were prosecuted by the government for their efforts, often as the result of information gained by government informants who infiltrated the movement. This has made those involved in new assistance efforts understandably hesitant to talk about their current actions.
The Border Patrol, which has been making efforts to provide more rescue services for migrants stranded in the deserts, says that as long as people call law enforcement when they discover migrants, they can then provide humanitarian assistance. The difficult line between providing assistance and harboring has led some groups to consult attorneys to see exactly how far they can go in offering assistance without facing prosecution.
Rev. John Fife, the minister of the Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, who served five years on probation for his activities in the Sanctuary Movement, says faith based communities are again meeting to address the moral issues raised by US border policy. According to Rev. Fife, in contrast to the Sanctuary Movement, which remained largely underground, the current groups are “going to be public about everything we do, because it’s part of the obligation to change immoral and disastrous immigration policies.” < Back | Next > Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided as a public service and not intended to establish an attorney client relationship. Any reliance on information contained herein is taken at your own risk. | 
