Tucson holds memorial service for Lucresia Dominguez Luna : AZ IMC

TUCSON – More than 70 people attended the July 29 memorial service for Lucresia Dominguez Luna, a Mexican woman who died in the southern Arizona desert attempting to come to the United States for work.

Lucresia, mother of three, had been left behind with her 15-year old son by the group she was traveling with. On June 21, 2005, Lucresia died in the arms of her son after literally being burned alive in the scorching summer heat.

Her son, forced to leave his mother behind, continued on alone until he was eventually apprehended by the United States Border Patrol. The Border Patrol made little effort to find his mother, and he was deported back to Nogales, Sonora.

Cesario Dominguez, Lucresia’s father, was able to get a visa to come to the U.S. to search for Lucresia’s remains. Her son was denied entry into the U.S. by both the Mexican and U.S. governments.

Volunteers from No More Deaths (NMD), a humanitarian organization that wants to end the deaths in the desert, aided Cesario on the search.

After more than a week in the desert, the search party found the Lucresia’s remains. Since her son recalled the location of her body, but was unable to be part of the search, he was phoned regularly in Nogales so the search party could ask him questions about what he remembered.

While searching for Lucresia, the search party found the remains of three other individuals.

“Excuse me for the pain in my soul, but I had to leave my home to come search for my daughter who died in the desert,” said Cesario in a trembling voice. “When I arrived here, I asked God to help me find her. I was able to find her thanks to everyone that helped me. I wanted to disappear,” he said through a translator.

NMD volunteers accompanied Lucresia’s son back to his family in Zacatecas, México. “As we went down to her hometown, slowly Lucresia came back to life,” Luke, a NMD volunteer said. “We met her family and those who she left behind. While she died in the desert, they are anxious for her to come home.”

During the Prayers of the People session at the memorial service, Tucsonans gave sympathy and hope for Cesario and his family. Some prayed that U.S. government officials would finally put a human face on the border crisis, while others wished that Border Patrol officers would “become more human.”

One man, stood up and between sobs, told a story about a humanitarian patrol he had been on that same morning. “On Ruby Road (within 10 miles north of the border) this morning, we found a woman about forty years old and her thirteen year old daughter on the side of the road,” he said. “They had both been left behind by their group and had fallen and injured themselves. Another migrant from Guadalajara, luckily found them and helped them to the road so they could be helped by Border Patrol. If that man hadn’t found them, they might have met the same fate as Lucresia.”

NMD estimates more than 150 individuals have died in the Arizona desert since October 2004. Every year, the number of deaths in the desert has increased. With the passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) earlier this week, it is expected the level of migration to the U.S. will only increase.

“No more deaths in the desert, in the whole world,” Cesario said.

**

The following was written in the memorial service about Lucresia:

“Lucresia Domenquez Luna was born on November 23, 1969 on Rancho del Durazno in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, México. She was a great source of light and life for all who knew her. She was a very special young woman, always there for her family and community. Lucresia was very smart and had a photographic memory. She would see a number or name one time and never forget it. Although she came from a very humble home, her family struggled valiantly and proudly watched as she graduated from high school. Lucresia is survived by her parents, Cesario Dominguez and María de Jesús Luna, her brothers and sisters Carlos, Sara, Fermín, Hilda, Gabriela, children Manuel, Jesús Abrán, Nora and husband Jesús.

Lucresia loved music and dance. She loved to sing and enjoyed life to its fullest. She brought joy to all those around her. She was very respectful to all those in her community but she was especially proud and respectful of her parents. She always stopped to hug and kiss them, even just in passing, to let them know ho much she loved them. She walked her children to school and spread her special kind of love and joy all along the street as she walked. People would come out of their homes to say hello to her. Lucresia’s family was the most important focus in her life. It was her desire to create a better quality of life for her children that brought her to Arizona. A couple months ago, Lucresia decided to travel to “el Norte” in search of a better life. On June 21, 2005, Lucresia died a horrific death in the arms of her 15 year old son, literally burned alive in the scorching Arizona desert. Her dreams for a better life for her family died at her side.”

For more information about Border Issues:
Derechos Humanos/Alianza
Indigena Sin Fronteras - http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net
Frontera de Cristo - http://www.pcusa.org/border/Frontera.htm
BorderLinks – http://www.borderlinks.org
Enlaces America - http://www.enlacesamerica.org
No More Deaths – http://www.nomoredeaths.org
Humane Borders – http://www.humaneborders.org
Indymedia Chiapas - http://www.chiapas.mediosindependientes.org
Sonoran Samaritans - http://www.pcusa.org/border/sonoran_samaritans.htm
La Jornada Sin Fronteras - http://www.jornadasinfronteras.com
Border Action Network – http://www.borderaction.org
Free Trade of the Americas newswire – http://www.ftaaimc.org
Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice - http://www.sneej.org
Samaritans - http://www.samaritanpatrol.org
Just Coffee – http://www.justcoffee.org
Migration Policy Institute - http://www.migrationpolicy.org
La Resistencia - http://www.laresistencia.org
Global Issues - http://www.globalissues.org
Border Matters - http://www.bordermatters.net

Cesario, and his family friend Jose, were able to get a visa to come to the United States to search for his daughters remains in the southern Arizona desert. Short video.

Luke, a volunteer with No More Deaths, accompanied Lucresia's 15-year old son back to his home in Mexico. He speaks about what it was like to meet her family. Short video

Sue Westfall, co-pastor, St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, speaks to the congregation. Short video.

Have you heard of NAFTA? And now CAFTA passed.. How many more are going to be coming because of our thirst for money? Is there any doubt that a hell of a lot more immigrants crossed the border once NAFTA was passed (yes, the population increased), but NAFTA had a direct effect on what we're seeing now. Repeal NAFTA and you'll see a change (but, things will never go back to the way they were before). Our Governement needs to step up and create a well thought out program. McCain and Kennedy's proposal is a start, but won't get passed anytime soon (if at all; Kyl's is just rediculous). To many people are making money off of them coming over here for our government to really do anything (especially with money-grubbing Bush in office). Yes, this state can try and put a bandaid on the situation, but keep in mind you don't fight fire with fire. This country needs to be smart about this situation, and so far is has been far from it. We all just need to wait until someone intelligent is elected to office.........