'Looking out for humanity': Along border, volunteers help migrants
(NewsNation) — On TV and in newspapers, there are plenty of images from the southern border of migrants crossing from Mexico to America.
While this has spurred much political debate and divide, there's also a humanitarian side to what's happening. A lot of children and families, many waiting on the Mexican side of the border, are trying to get across, but they need food, water and medical care while they wait.
Along the way, there are volunteers and humanitarian groups who help them — with donors from both sides of the aisle putting their differences aside to help families who need it.
In Arizona, a NewsNation crew found a small tent city with migrants resting and American citizens cooking for them. Migrants showed up every day, with new groups arriving every couple of hours, waiting for Border Patrol to pick them up.
Volunteers who spoke to NewsNation said they identified as both Democrats and Republicans.
"We are not out here doing anything illegal or anything against the law. We are not driving people to Tucson or anything," one volunteer, Bob Kee, said. "We don’t do that."
Instead, "we are looking out for humanity," Kee said.
"I am not here to judge these folks," Kee told NewsNation. "I am here to provide assistance. That is why I'm here. They need help. How do you look at a child and not provide food or assistance? I can't turn away. That is part of my belief system."
Not far away in Nogales, Arizona, NewNation crews walked through a tunnel and realized just how quick and easy it is to get into Mexico.
Families could be seen sleeping on sidewalks, waiting on the Mexican side of the border for appointments to enter the United States.
One person said they have been waiting six months to get into the U.S. Another told NewsNation they've been waiting for 10 days.
When asked why not just walk across, they said they are "waiting their turn" and want to do the right thing by entering through a port.
At a nearby shelter run by a Catholic charity called Kino Border Initiative, NewsNation found others like this migrant, choosing not to cross unlawfully.
Joanna Williams, Kino's executive director, said many migrants have a deep respect for the laws of the country in which they are arriving.
"That is what I hear from the people here," Williams said. "They say, 'Well, we want to follow a system.'"
Many of the donors say the purpose of helping families is fundamental to their faith and that despite their conservative politics, they can’t look away from fellow humans.
"That is something that is unique and beautiful in the way we can draw together so many threads," Williams said. "We are not primarily a political organization. We are an organization that cares about the human dignity of the folks who are arriving, the moms and dads who are here. There are a lot of people who can unite behind that mission."