A third of O'odham tribal members lack papers

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2003

About 8,400 members of the 25,000-member Tohono O'odham Nation lack documentation to prove their U.S. citizenship, The Christian Science Monitor reports.

The tribe's land straddles the U.S.-Mexico border and tribal members have always gone back and forth. But without documentation, crossing can be difficult.

To remedy the problem, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) has introduced a bill to grant all tribal members U.S. citizenship. The bill is opposed by some in Arizona and some immigration critics.

Get the Story:
A tribe's tale of three identities (The Christian Science Monitor 4/30)

Related Stories:
Testimony at border hearing filled with complaints (03/11)
Tohono O'odham Nation hosts border issues hearing (3/10)
Ariz. congressman makes tribe a priority (02/20)
O'odham citizenship bill reintroduced (02/13)
Aid to border crossers criticized (09/26)
Tribe seizes 300 pounds of drugs daily (9/25)
Mexican migrants stress tribal hospitals (9/24)
Four bodies recovered on Ariz. reservation (8/30)
Tribe sees double standard on border (8/12)
Mexico's President invites tribal leaders (8/05)
Changes sought in U.S. border policy (6/18)
Ariz. tribe wrests with border issue (6/13)
Ariz. tribal pastor claims intimidation (6/11)
Border arrests increase on reservation (6/7)
Ariz. tribe pushes citizenship bill (6/4)
Bush announces Mexican border plan (3/22)
Tribal members fear border harassment (11/26)
Tough border policy rejects Mexicans (10/2)
Machines not ready for tough border policy (10/1)
Border policy could affect Tohono O'odham (9/27)
Tohono O'odham elder dies (8/29)
O'odham citizenship bill pushed (6/29)
O'odham delegation on way to D.C. (5/31)
Tribe protests border policies (5/29)
Citizenship for Mexican O'odham sought (1/12)