Members of a group called Alianza Indigena say tribes whose lands straddle the U.S.-Mexico border should be allowed to freely cross it.

The group supports efforts by the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona to ensure the tribal members on both sides of the border can cross without being harassed. "They have always moved across their lands, for ceremony or for speaking or medicine or whatever," Lupe Lopez tells The Orange County Register.

The group also recently staged a protest against the Minuteman Project, an all-volunteer citizens group that has staged patrols of the U.S.-Mexico border. Lopez says the project promotes racism and hate.

A group called the Yuma Patriots has been patrolling the Cocopah Reservation in Arizona. The Cocopah Tribe has told the volunteers to stay away but they returned over the weekend to keep watch on border crossings.

Get the Story:
Native view of the border (The Orange County Register 6/13)
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Patriots carry out planned patrol (The Yuma Sun 6/12)

Relevant Links:
Alianza Indigena - http://www.alianzaindigena.org
Minuteman Project - http://www.minutemanhq.com

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