2000 Star file photo
Tohono O'odham members Alicia Chuhuhua, left, and Alicia Bustamante are among those affected by the border problem.

For centuries, the "desert people" lived on their vast land with no borders to stop them from traveling, farming and hunting.

But today, that traditional land of the Tohono O'odham is split by the U.S. border with Mexico.

That's because in 1854, Congress ratified the Gadsden Purchase, which brought the southern portions of New Mexico and Arizona into the United States.

For decades, the U.S. government allowed tribal members to freely cross the border to work, go to school, take part in religious ceremonies, seek medical treatment in Sells and visit relatives.

But beginning in 1986, with new immigration laws, the U.S. made it more difficult for Tohono O'odham returning from Mexico to enter this country.

Last year, U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, an Arizona Democrat, introduced a bill that would amend federal immigration laws to make the affected 8,400 Tohono O'odham members U.S. citizens. If it passes, enrolled tribal members could freely cross the border again.

Follow news reports in the Arizona Daily Star this year to see what happens to the proposed law.

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