The Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona is encouraging members not to take part in an annual pilgrimage to Mexico.

Thousands of tribal members go to a small church in Mexico to pay tribute to a Jesuit missionary. But drug violence in the area has tribal leaders worried about safety.

"There's no question that there are in fact issues between drug cartels and no question in our minds that there has been a threat issued to use this feast as a means to demonstrate their willingness to take over this area," Chairman Ned Norris told The Arizona Daily Star.

The tribe sent vans to Mexico to bring tribal members back home. But Norris said 3,000 to 4,000 will still attend the ceremony despite the violence.

Get the Story:
Fearing cartels, O'odham move tribal pilgrims out of Sonora (The Arizona Daily Star 10/3)
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