2015 Photos

All Migrant Trail participants are invited to share their photos on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/92300350558/

This year, we had the honor of having the very generous Rev. Eric Ledermann join us, who offered his very talented gift of photography to us. The following are photos that he took during the week. We invite you to share or use them in any way that helps promote border justice. All rights are reserved.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Margo Cowan introduces Rosa Robles Loreta, in sanctuary at Southside since August 2014.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Helen and Jack introduce the “Enviro” Team.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Dan orients the Safety Team.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Br. David orients the Food Team.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Teams divide up and meet for the first time.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Br. David orients the Food Team.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Dinner provided by the Mennonite fellowship.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Packing of the vehicles.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Packing the food trailer.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Logistics packing the luggage trailer.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Packing the food trailer.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Packing of the vehicles.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Moyhaddin fixing a cracked cooler. Duct tape, it fixes everything!

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Maria helping prepare the Health Team trunk.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Helain orienting the Enviro Team on how to properly pack supplies on the trailer.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. “Let’s do this!” Go Enviro Team!

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Tom teaches the Logistics Team how to properly store the water jugs.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Helain orienting the Enviro Team.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Jody getting sign ups for overnight safety patrols for each night of the week.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Crosses made for nearly all the several thousand bodies recovered in the desert over the past several years. Participants carry a cross with them the entire week.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Tom introducing some important aspects to keep everyone safe, especially around the vehicles.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Participants select crosses to carry through the desert with them.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting. Participants select crosses to carry through the desert with them.

: Migrant Trail Walk 2015 Press Conference

: Migrant Trail Walk registration and orientation meeting.

: Migrant Trail Walk 2015 Press Conference

: Migrant Trail Wail 2015. Participants cross the border into Mexico at Sasabe, Sonora.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Migrant Trail Walk procession of the coffins representing the men, women and children who have died crossing.

: Brother David carries the prayer ties across the border, each knot representative of those whose remains have been recovered.

: We have the freedom to cross. But so many are refused despite clear humanitarian need created by our governments support of violent forces in their country.

: Baboquivari peak shadows us, naval of the world according to the Tohono O’ogham people, where the earth opened and the people emerged after the great flood.

: As a symbolic gesture of solidarity, each participant who is a citizen of the U.S. forfeits their passport and ID during the walk. We are citizens of the world, with or without papers to prove it.

: Kat Rodriguez, the primary organizer, helps coordinate much of the details of the walk.

: Along the way we meet those who disagree with our walk and our position on immigration. This man moved to Sasabe, Arizona, only a year or two before, but claims “this is my home,” yelling profanities at us as we walk by in silence.

: Freshly brewed Cafe Justo coffee was a prominent fixture each morning of the Migrant Trail Walk.

: Early morning stretching and saying good morning to the sun that we knew would bake us later in the day.

: Chandra and several others led morning stretching to get our muscles loosened up for the grueling miles ahead.

: Each morning at circle teams would make announcements t help keep the group all on the same page. Here Dan Abbott gives morning instructions from the Safety Team.

: We would also share every day in the Migrant Prayer, alternating between Spanish and English each day.

: The Environmental Team provided for our middle-of-the-desert “business.” Here ____ sanitizes one of the 5-gallon bucket seats before storing it on the trailer.

: In no way is the Migrant Trail a “simulation” of what’s it like for migrants to walk through the desert. We don’t hide the fact that we have vehicles, trailers, and even bathroom tents. Instead, we witness to the cruelty of the desert and walk in solidarity with those who walk in the shadows beside us, both physically and in spirit.

: It’s 4:20 a.m. and we are hitting the trail on Thursday to beat the heat, the longest leg of our journey at 15.6 miles.

: All coffee on the Migrant Trail Walk came to us from Cafe Justo in Agua Prieta (www.justcoffee.org).

: All coffee on the Migrant Trail Walk came to us from Cafe Justo in Agua Prieta (www.justcoffee.org).

: After using 5 gallon buckets with clip on toilet seats for several days, porta-potties never looked so good!

: After using 5 gallon buckets with clip on toilet seats for several days, porta-potties never looked so good!

: Border Patrol checkpoint.

: Border Patrol checkpoint.

: Border Patrol checkpoint.

: Cholla cactus are very dangerous and clink mightily to any clothes or skin.

: When their regular shoes wear out, or if they cannot afford shoes, migrants will use what they have available. Here, carpet was used to fashion a sandal, but was left on the side of the road.

: When their regular shoes wear out, or if they cannot afford shoes, migrants will use what they have available. Here, carpet was used to fashion a sandal, but was left on the side of the road.

: Safety is of upmost concern on the Migrant Trail Walk. “Love the line” is the Safety Team’s mantra when we hit the road.

: Backpacks and clothes are often found in the desert, remnants of migrants who have passed through here and forced to leave their belongings either by coyotes or Border Patrol.

: Backpacks and clothes are often found in the desert, remnants of migrants who have passed through here and forced to leave their belongings either by coyotes or Border Patrol.

: The Food Team.

: The Logistics Team.

: The Safety Team

: The Environmental Team.

: The Medical Team.

: On the last day, many come and join the group for the final 6 mile walk to Kennedy Park in Tucson.

: On the last day, many come and join the group for the final 6 mile walk to Kennedy Park in Tucson.

: At Kennedy Park in Tucson, the crosses we have carried, reminding of those who have died and who walk with us, are laid to rest, symbolizing that we were able to help those who died finish the journey they were not able to finish.

: At Kennedy Park in Tucson, the crosses we have carried, reminding of those who have died and who walk with us, are laid to rest, symbolizing that we were able to help those who died finish the journey they were not able to finish.

: A ceremonial foot washing it conducted, a cleansing of the soul for the journey ahead to reform our unjust and deadly immigration system.

: A ceremonial foot washing it conducted, a cleansing of the soul for the journey ahead to reform our unjust and deadly immigration system.

: A ceremonial foot washing it conducted, a cleansing of the soul for the journey ahead to reform our unjust and deadly immigration system.