Winter 2025 Newsletter
Dear Ajo Samaritan Friends and Supporters,
In the Ajo area, summer temperatures continued well into the fall with many days in September and even October reaching over 100 degrees. The summer monsoon rains were meager, but heavy rains in October and November provided some much-needed moisture. Despite the weather, the Ajo Samaritans have continued to provide humanitarian aid in the desert in our area.
In the Ajo area, summer temperatures continued well into the fall with many days in September and even October reaching over 100 degrees. The summer monsoon rains were meager, but heavy rains in October and November provided some much-needed moisture. Despite the weather, the Ajo Samaritans have continued to provide humanitarian aid in the desert in our area.
In the Ajo corridor between September 1, 2025 and December 20, 2025, with the support of many allied individuals and groups, we hiked into the desert and left over 250 gallons of water along with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid items. In the fall we welcomed back many returning volunteers who come for the cooler winter season. As we have continued our trips into the desert, we are seeing that despite the brutal summer temperatures and a border policy that is more unwelcoming than ever, people looking for a better, safer life have been continuing to travel through the borderlands.
Read the full newsletter HERE
Read the full newsletter HERE
Fall 2025 Newsletter
Summertime is a time of high temperatures and low volunteer capacity in the Ajo corridor as many of our regular volunteers spend the summer up north in cooler areas. However, there is always an intrepid skeleton crew that continues the work locally while others support from afar. Included below is some information from our summer crew as well as a book review/recommendation for your consideration.
Desert Aid continues in the Ajo Corridor, though we’ve witnessed significant changes in the region. Water usage has decreased–though not stopped completely. The summer months regularly see fewer people crossing, given the extreme temperatures. Highs have regularly exceeded 110º throughout the summer, and are rarely dipping below 100º. When the temperatures are slightly cooler, we continue to maintain and check our regular water drops throughout the summer, while establishing new drops in areas where people are known to have passed away within this past year.
Read the full newsletter HERE
Desert Aid continues in the Ajo Corridor, though we’ve witnessed significant changes in the region. Water usage has decreased–though not stopped completely. The summer months regularly see fewer people crossing, given the extreme temperatures. Highs have regularly exceeded 110º throughout the summer, and are rarely dipping below 100º. When the temperatures are slightly cooler, we continue to maintain and check our regular water drops throughout the summer, while establishing new drops in areas where people are known to have passed away within this past year.
Read the full newsletter HERE
Spring 2025 Newsletter
The Fall/Winter season of 2024-2025 has been a busy one for the Ajo Samaritans. In the Ajo corridor, between December 1, 2024 and March 15, 2025, the Ajo Samaritans with the support of many allied individuals and groups hiked into the desert and left 280 gallons of water along with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid items. We typically place the water under crates and put food and other supplies in buckets to keep them protected from sunlight and animals.
During our busy winter season, we have also conducted multiple orientations and welcomed many new members to our group. The trainings included discussion about various aspects of our work such as the historical and geographical context of humanitarian work in the borderlands, the Ajo Samaritan mission, core values and group agreements as well as practical issues such as what equipment and supplies we carry into the desert and the right tire pressure for desert trips.
Read the full newsletter HERE
During our busy winter season, we have also conducted multiple orientations and welcomed many new members to our group. The trainings included discussion about various aspects of our work such as the historical and geographical context of humanitarian work in the borderlands, the Ajo Samaritan mission, core values and group agreements as well as practical issues such as what equipment and supplies we carry into the desert and the right tire pressure for desert trips.
Read the full newsletter HERE
Winter 2024 Newsletter
The summer of 2024 brought record breaking heat to the Arizona borderlands. Despite this, a small group of intrepid volunteers continued providing humanitarian aid. In the Ajo corridor, between July 1 and November 30 the Ajo Samaritans with the support of many allied individuals and groups
hiked into the desert and left 137 gallons of water along with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid items. We maintained the Ajo humanitarian aid office open hours on most Friday and Saturday mornings, allowing residents and visitors access to humanitarian aid information.
hiked into the desert and left 137 gallons of water along with food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid items. We maintained the Ajo humanitarian aid office open hours on most Friday and Saturday mornings, allowing residents and visitors access to humanitarian aid information.
The Ajo Samaritans collaborate with many other groups. Sadly, the extreme weather in our area causes some desert travelers to get lost or left behind. Across the summer several Search and Rescue groups including the Aguilas del Desierto and the Blue Armadillos came to the Ajo corridor to look for individuals who were known to have gone missing in our area. Individuals from the Ajo Samaritans joined in some of these searches. Below is a link to a news story about one of those searches which gives you a sense of the vastness and heat of the summer Sonoran Desert as well as the heartbreak of the families
missing their loved ones. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-arizona-desert-missing-migrants/
Read the full newsletter HERE
missing their loved ones. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-arizona-desert-missing-migrants/
Read the full newsletter HERE
Summer 2023 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
We are seeing near record heat daily here in Ajo. For days and weeks, the temperature in the desert has climbed well over 105 degrees. The nights are not much better; our lows are barely breaking 90. And our monsoon season is late. Despite the heat, people continue to make the journey north and we continue to provide humanitarian aid in the desert and at the border wall.
We are seeing near record heat daily here in Ajo. For days and weeks, the temperature in the desert has climbed well over 105 degrees. The nights are not much better; our lows are barely breaking 90. And our monsoon season is late. Despite the heat, people continue to make the journey north and we continue to provide humanitarian aid in the desert and at the border wall.
Solidarity action with Phoenix No More Deaths to expose abuse at the Ajo Border Patrol Station
Last week, we collaborated with members of Phoenix No More Deaths to expose inhumane treatment of people detained at the Ajo Border Patrol Station. In the extreme heat people are being held in outdoor cages. Ryan Devereaux from The Intercept and photographer, Ash Ponders, visited Ajo to bring this abuse to national attention. Read the article here Read the full newsletter HERE |
Offering aid at the Border Wall with Humane Borders and Samaritans sin Fronteras
The area of the border wall that runs through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument continues to see crossings by asylum seekers wanting to turn themselves in to Border Patrol. The removal of desert plants during the building of the wall means that there is little shade and in the exposed desert the temperatures are blistering. Humane Borders has set up water stations along the wall from Highway 85 to Quitobaquito Springs. |
Winter 2021 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Ajo Samaritans e-newletter. Do not worry we are not going to bombard your inbox with updates or requests for money – although should anything you read in the newsletter inspire you to make a donation we would be most appreciative. This occasional newsletter will help us to include you in our community, share our stories, and build connections between people of conscience who are committed to humanitarian aid at the US southern and northern borders and everywhere in between.
Welcome to the Ajo Samaritans e-newletter. Do not worry we are not going to bombard your inbox with updates or requests for money – although should anything you read in the newsletter inspire you to make a donation we would be most appreciative. This occasional newsletter will help us to include you in our community, share our stories, and build connections between people of conscience who are committed to humanitarian aid at the US southern and northern borders and everywhere in between.
CELEBRATIONS and CHALLENGES for a New Year in 2021
We celebrate the immediate changes that the Biden Administration has taken by executive action to end some of the most inhumane and damaging polices of the previous administration.
More than this we celebrate the strength and resilience of people who have been forced to wait in Mexico to have their asylum claims heard or to be reunited with their families.
We honor the courage of people who have chosen not to remain at the border, but to return to their home countries even in the face of personal, political, economic or climate violence perpetrated against them.....
Read the full newsletter HERE
We celebrate the immediate changes that the Biden Administration has taken by executive action to end some of the most inhumane and damaging polices of the previous administration.
More than this we celebrate the strength and resilience of people who have been forced to wait in Mexico to have their asylum claims heard or to be reunited with their families.
We honor the courage of people who have chosen not to remain at the border, but to return to their home countries even in the face of personal, political, economic or climate violence perpetrated against them.....
Read the full newsletter HERE
Spring 2021 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
We have seen many changes to our humanitarian aid work over the past couple of months. In addition to our work in the desert and at the shelters in Sonoyta, we are collaborating with many community groups here in Ajo to offer support to people seeking asylum who have been abandoned by Border Patrol in our town. As we navigate these new challenges, we continue to put water in the desert and take clothes, shoes and blankets to the shelters. Here are two stories from members of our Desert Aid and Shelter Working Groups…
We have seen many changes to our humanitarian aid work over the past couple of months. In addition to our work in the desert and at the shelters in Sonoyta, we are collaborating with many community groups here in Ajo to offer support to people seeking asylum who have been abandoned by Border Patrol in our town. As we navigate these new challenges, we continue to put water in the desert and take clothes, shoes and blankets to the shelters. Here are two stories from members of our Desert Aid and Shelter Working Groups…
A Walk in the Desert by Kevin
Wake before sunrise, coffee up. Pack water, snacks, compass, my old medic bag. Finish my second cup of coffee, load my backpack in my vehicle, and head to the Aid Office.
Our crew for the day meets up at the Aid Office. Have a conversation about where we are headed, what is needed for the drop (water, beans, small comfort kits containing toothpaste, deodorant etc.). We load up and head out.....
Wake before sunrise, coffee up. Pack water, snacks, compass, my old medic bag. Finish my second cup of coffee, load my backpack in my vehicle, and head to the Aid Office.
Our crew for the day meets up at the Aid Office. Have a conversation about where we are headed, what is needed for the drop (water, beans, small comfort kits containing toothpaste, deodorant etc.). We load up and head out.....
Sonoyta by Jan
“Que necesita?” I ask a young man who has been pushed to the table as a newly arrived migrant. He just looks at me blankly. “Necesita pantalones? Camisa? Zapatos?” He answers, “Whatever you want to give me. What I’m wearing is all I have.” I look at his ill-fitting dirty jacket, ragged pants and old shoes. I quickly get him a pair of pants, shirt, socks and shoes. He asked for underwear, but I haven’t brought any. I tell him I will next week. He seems shocked that we produced this in minutes for him....
Read the full newsletter HERE
“Que necesita?” I ask a young man who has been pushed to the table as a newly arrived migrant. He just looks at me blankly. “Necesita pantalones? Camisa? Zapatos?” He answers, “Whatever you want to give me. What I’m wearing is all I have.” I look at his ill-fitting dirty jacket, ragged pants and old shoes. I quickly get him a pair of pants, shirt, socks and shoes. He asked for underwear, but I haven’t brought any. I tell him I will next week. He seems shocked that we produced this in minutes for him....
Read the full newsletter HERE