Kino Border Initiative Recognized for Humanitarian Work with Migrants in Nogales

In September, the Mexican Consulate in Nogales, Ariz. bestowed awards to the Kino Border Initiative for their humanitarian work in the US-Mexico border region.

During a Sept. 15 reception celebrating Mexico’s Independence Day, Consul General Jaime Paz y Puente presented the Mexican government’s Othli award to the Kino Border Initiative, represented by Jesuit Father Sean Carroll, executive director of the organization, along with staff members and volunteers.

The award, created by the Institute for Mexicans Living Abroad, recognizes the efforts of people or organizations that work to support Mexican migrants or Mexican communities in the United States. Founded in January 2009, the all-volunteer Kino Border Initiative is a binational organization based that extends aid to migrants through a comedor (eatery), a woman’s shelter and a medical station and has served thousands of migrants that have been deported to Nogales, Mexico.

“The work of the Kino Border Initiative has been key to helping Mexican migrants to have a safe and easy return to their places of origin by providing them with a place to stay, receive medical attention and to have a warm meal,” the consulate said in a news release.