What We Do

The mission of Samaritans is to save lives and relieve suffering in the Arizona borderlands. The conditions at our border have changed since our founding in 2005 and yet we are still focused on this same mission. We accomplish our mission through the six main activities below. This would not be possible without a myriad of volunteer Samaritans. If you are a new volunteer Samaritan, we recommend you attend a Samaritan Training in Tucson. Here's a brochure telling more about us.

Desert Searches

Search teams witness the desert when driving the backroads. Samaritans offer water, food, clothes and first aid to anyone suffering from heat stroke, severe cold, dehydration, exhaustion or injuries. We call 911 or Border Patrol for those needing major medical help. 

Samaritans  converse with Border Patrol agents, hunters, birders, ranchers, humanitarian aid volunteers, biologists, migrants and militia.

​Prepare for a Search by reading What to Expect on a Desert Trip.

Water 

Water Drop teams drive specific routes, then hike to check water caches along known migrant trails. Samaritans replace water jugs when water has been used or is too old to drink; sometimes the jugs are damaged by animals or vandalized. Caches usually contain food packs and blankets.

When clean water cannot be found, LifeStraws (personal water filters) transform dirty cattle pond water into safe drinking water.

Prepare for a Water Drop by reading What to Expect on a Desert Trip.

Shelters

Samaritans support shelters for asylum seekers and migrants. These shelters are in Tucson and Nogales, Sonora. Activities include:

• Welcoming guests to the shelter
• Cooking/serving meals
• Sorting/offering donations
• Teaching ESL/art activities
• Arranging for transportation
• Offering medical/legal assistance

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Here is a list of needed donations. Guests are thankful to interact with folks who care.

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El Comedor

El Comedor, an aid center for migrants in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico provides two meals a day to migrant men, women and children at all stages of their journeys; some are deportees and many are seeking asylum. Many are experiencing life-altering choices. Once a week, we help serve meals and converse with migrants. First aid is available. Here is a list of needed medical items. If you wish, bring some to a Samaritan meeting or the day you go to El Comedor.

Operation Streamline

Samaritans regularly witness and report on Operation Streamline (OS) proceedings at the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Tucson. 

​Operation Streamline is a process of mass, fast-track court hearings where unauthorized migrants are prosecuted as criminals. Up to 75 migrants bound with 5-point shackles are charged and sentenced within 2 hours.

We witness court on Mondays and Wednesdays. Contact Katrina or Sara on the Contact Us page, so you can go with them and get more out of your experience.
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​For more information, click on Operation Streamline Overview. And here is a recent Tucson Operation Streamline Cost Study.

Communications

The Communications Group meets after the biweekly Samaritan meeting. See meeting dates on the calendar. It's a great time for newcomers to ask questions and get connected. 

We also:

• Develop Meeting Nuggets 
• Discuss website changes
• Distribute Sams-in-a-Box to enhance presentations

We spread the word' and encourage others to share opinions and experiences through:

• Opinions in Print
• Creative Responses
• Presentations About the Border