From Scenic Routes to Serious Realities
Welcome to Ruby Road in Southern Arizona, where the scenery is quite lovely for the ears of those who’ve never had to walk here carrying every hope on their back! Just imagine a spot that promises picturesque rock formations and stunning canyons – sounds like your Instagram filter jackpot, right? But let’s be real, the only filter here is the one that says, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” as your GPS gives up and suggests you start training for a marathon!
Survival or Surrender?
In this unforgiving corner of the Earth, it’s staggering how the pursuit of life can also lead to its occasional end. Over 4,000 souls have been counted as mere statistics in this difficult stretch of land. And hydration? Forget it. It’s like a summer’s day in a sauna that forgot to turn off the heat!
Ricky Gervais quip: Seriously, dehydration is the first cause of death here. Can we not install a bar or something? You know, “Happy Hour on Ruby Road”—it’s as absurd as thinking you could walk across the Sahara in flip-flops. Might as well serve cocktails while we’re at it!
Humanitarian Efforts on a Hostile Road
Timothy Doherty and his Tucson Samaritans are like those beloved uncles who help you move with water, food, and a first-aid kit — only in this case, the ‘moving’ is crossing international borders, and the stakes are a tad higher! They offer their supply drops near stones and scrubs like a scavenger hunt, but instead of treasure, they’re hoping for humanity’s sake.
Rowan Atkinson twist: It’s like a post-apocalyptic picnic out here! ‘I brought sandwiches!’ – ‘Oh dear, no one is hungry for ham when death is on the menu, Mr. Bean!’
Political Playground or Minefield?
Fast forward to 2024 where immigration is the talk of the town, and suddenly everyone’s become an expert. And, dear reader, if you thought politics was all talk, you haven’t met, well, anyone in politics! Arizona is at the center of this storm, with Proposition 314 looming over like that one friend who always brings unhappy news at dinner. Day by day, the line between legal and illegal stretches thinner, much like my patience during family dinners.
Lee Evans perspective: It’s absolutely mental! You’ve got Biden doing a political tango while Trump wades in offering the biggest “mass deportation” in history. When did debates become a slapstick routine? “You’re up next, Joe, show us your best dance moves about immigration!”
The Voices of the Forgotten
Meet Jasmine, who fled Mexico like it was the finale of a reality show. “If they refuse, I will try again,” she says. No drama, just pure determination! Her spirit shines brighter than a Hollywood star on Oscar night while waiting for her chance to be heard against the political circus around her.
Final word: The only “proposition” these people should be worried about is the proposition to survive, and why can’t we celebrate that? While politicians argue, what about their hopes and dreams? And make no mistake—life isn’t about borders. It’s about connections — human connections! That’s what it should be about — or at least, I hope this doesn’t turn into another riveting episode of ‘Who Wants to be a Deportee?’
Thank you for joining me on this commentary journey—where comedy meets reality, and where the issues are as serious as my next attempt to open a bottle of wine without making a mess! Cheers!
After leaving the town, the signal on the cell phone and then on the GPS disappears after less than a quarter of an hour. To navigate the treacherous ups and downs of the rugged Ruby Road, an equipped off-road vehicle is essential. This remote corner of southern Arizona, bordering Mexico, is commonly referred to as a “scenic” road. Tourist guides eagerly promise visitors the breathtaking sight of extraordinary rock formations, iconic canyons native to this state, and distant shimmering lakes. However, for migrants attempting to cross these challenging terrains on foot in search of a better life, the journey often culminates in tragedy. In the past thirty years, over four thousand bodies have been discovered in this perilous area alone. «Dehydration is the primary cause of death here. There is no shelter from the relentless sun. Many migrants arrive severely unprepared, already exhausted from their long journey», explains Timothy Doherty, a dedicated volunteer with the Tucson Samaritans, an organization that has been providing humanitarian aid to migrants since its inception in 2002.
AT THE BORDER
The roads are rugged and steep, with the surrounding mountain landscape characterized by desolation and dry vegetation. The challenges are compounded by soaring temperatures, leaving the risk of getting lost alarmingly high, as there are no signs, internet access, or satellite connections. It typically takes about ninety minutes from the state road to reach the towering border wall, a path that can take desperate migrants several days to traverse on foot. «Our volunteers leave tanks of water, medicines, and food near the stones or shrubs along this treacherous route», shares Tim. «We have mapped out common paths taken by people, offering our assistance to all, driven by the belief that every individual deserves compassion and support, regardless of the color of our passport.»
Their humanitarian efforts have grown significantly in response to increasing migration trends: as of early 2024, the region south of Arizona became the most traversed route for migrants. Over the first four months alone, approximately two hundred thousand apprehensions were recorded, which overwhelmed county offices responsible for migrant assistance. Since summer, there has been a notable decrease in crossings, attributed to an executive order from the Biden administration that blocked asylum requests once illegal entries exceeded 2,500 individuals per day.
As the nation gears up for the presidential election, immigration remains a critical and contentious issue, affecting not only this border state but the entire country. During the Biden administration alone, 6.5 million people crossed the southern border, with 2023 setting a new record year for immigration numbers. In Arizona, in addition to deciding on the next president, voters will face a significant choice regarding “Proposition 314,” a controversial measure strongly opposed by activists, that would classify the presence of undocumented individuals in the state as a crime.
Historically, immigration was often a subject tackled on a bipartisan level. However, in the past decade, it has increasingly been portrayed as a dire threat to the very fabric of the United States. This shift in perspective is partly due to the changing dynamics of incoming migrants—no longer predominantly Mexican laborers, but now entire families fleeing violence and instability from Central America seeking asylum. The rise of Donald Trump in politics has further intertwined immigration rhetoric with national security concerns.
Since the beginning of his first term, the former Republican president has adopted a severely punitive stance on immigration. Should he win re-election, he has promised an escalation of these policies. This year, at every campaign rally, he has condemned what he terms the “failed policies” of the Biden administration, blaming Democrats for permitting the “invasion of criminals”—his derogatory term for migrants—whom he accuses of bringing crime and illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, responsible for thousands of deaths. As such, his plan—which many consider implausible—includes orchestrating the largest “mass deportation in history,” constructing additional walls, and enhancing funding for border enforcement. These extreme positions have significantly flavored the national approach to immigration over time. Even Vice President Kamala Harris has felt compelled to adopt firmer stances on border security amidst the election campaign, diverting attention from the immigration crisis faced during her administration. However, her approach remains fundamentally humanitarian, advocating for a comprehensive reform that broadens pathways for legal immigration, which she argues is essential for the nation’s economic vitality. Many critics assert that Trump is driven solely by self-interest, highlighting his failure to support a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing the immigration crisis and ultimately preserving national integrity.
THE VOICES
“We have already been expelled once, now we hope it will get better,” says Jasmine, a girl of about 20, brimming with determination despite the grueling days of walking that led her to the border. “My mother and I are Mexican; we cannot return because we have nothing left. I even faced harassment from my employers.” We encounter Jasmine in a makeshift tent just a few steps from the section where the border wall stands. Like many others, she awaits immigration officials to process her asylum request. “If they deny us, I will try again. Living in America is our only hope.”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The director’s point, every Monday
Sign up and receive news via email
Jimmy Carr mode: They say this place is “scenic.” Scenic? I’ve seen more hospitable environments in a dentist’s waiting room! And talk about rugged terrain—if the hills could talk, they’d say, “Keep on walking, if you can! But if you can’t, well, we do need more body count for the stats, don’t we?”