I started working with the Migrant Quilt Project while conducting research for my dissertation ten years ago. The Migrant Quilt Project is based in Tucson, Arizona. Community quilters create quilts out of migrant clothing left behind at lay sites. Each quilt memorializes each dead migrant (according to the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office) per fiscal year by naming the migrant if known, or listing as unknown (desconocido/desconocida if unknown). These memorial quilts don’t account for the countless humans whose remains are not found.

Since 2013, I’ve continued to work with quilters and the project to raise awareness about the deleterious US Immigration policies. I’ve completed a quilt for the project, and have spoken about the project at community and academic events.

In 2022 I became the director of the project when the founder Jody Ipsen stepped down. My goal is to end the project, as no more quilts would mean no more migrant deaths.