Chichimecah Project
Since October of 2018, 30,000 individuals seeking asylum have been dropped off on the streets of Phoenix by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE department of the US federal government. Approximately 50% are children. Since January/February of 2019 the number is approximately 9789 individual families, typically single parents with kids. Of this total, the TONATIERRA has hosted nearly one thousand individuals through the Chichimeca Project at the bare bones facilities at the Nahuacalli. The overwhelming majority of these families are members of nations and communities of Indigenous Peoples such as the Maya Mam [Guatemala], the Nahua Pipil [El Salvador], the Lenca [Honduras], and others too numerous to name.
Working in collaboration and coordination with other community organizations and religious denominations, TONTIERRA has been receiving these families at the Nahuacalli providing temporary respite and comfort. We assist in family communications, travel arrangements towards next their destination in the asylum court proceedings in an organized and safe manner. Needed services such and food, clothing and medical support are offered, and a general orientation to court proceedings and legal processes.
Unique to the other agencies working on this issue, the Chichimeca Project affirms that the humanitarian crisis that is overwhelming us in terms of capacity, is not an “Immigration Crisis” at “our” southern border. It is a crisis of colonization and the inevitable blowback of decades of state sanctioned genocide supported by US policies in Mexico, and the countries of Central and South America.
