Maria Jesus Romo-Robles

Member residing south of the boundary

Maria Jesus Romo-Robles traveled freely across the border from Sonoyta, Sonora, until 1998, when U.S. officials turned her back. Since then, she's had to cross illegally for good medical care.

It is sad not to be able to enter our own lands of our Tohono O'odham Nation. They say these are our lands, but only God knows if they will truly ever let us pass freely.

In 1935, I was born in Sonoyta, south of the U.S.-Mexico boundary, and have lived here all my life.

We used to be able to cross back and forth without any difficulty. My father worked in the mine in Ajo. We would even go to the movies in Ajo. Then the boundary changed.

One summer day in 1998, I got sick. I had been going to the doctor at the hospital on my nation's lands north of the boundary for a few weeks, but this day I really felt bad. A worker from my nation's health department picked me up to go to the hospital. The U.S. immigration agent would not let us cross the boundary. We had to enter through our nation's lands. I was afraid. I started to cry. I felt bad. Why do they treat us O'odham like this?

For more than two years I did not return north, and then I got sick again. I live alone. I went to tell my neighbor that I was sick and when she opened her door, she found me unconscious on the step. I awoke in a clinic in Sonoyta. The doctors here sent me to the hospital on my nation's lands to the north. My children came for me and took me through our nation's lands. I was hospitalized for several days.

It was dangerous for my children to come for me. They live north of the boundary without documents. My children have lived north of the boundary for almost 10 years. Some of them work for our nation. As a mother, I worry that something will happen to them. I do not want them to live in danger. I do not want them to be in hiding. I do not want them to live in fear.

The boundary has hurt me because I cannot see my children. If they become ill, I cannot care for them. They cannot come and see me, because they cannot care for them. They cannot come and see me because they cannot safely return north. I love them very much. I adore them all. I want to be with them. What happens to them hurts me.

I will die soon. I ask Congress to change the law for my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. I ask you to bring our O'odham family together.

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