United States

US government policies designed to deter asylum seekers have only further endangered the lives of people seeking safety. For example, US asylum restrictions enacted in recent years have forced asylum seekers to remain in dangerous border cities in Mexico while they await appointments with US border officials, where they face violence and extortion at the hands of criminal groups.

Some people left stranded at the border decide the risk of staying in Mexico is too high and end up crossing the into the US without authorization. Many cross into Arizona’s Pima and Santa Cruz counties on foot via the Sonoran Desert—a remote region without shelter or basic services, and several hours away from the nearest hospital. The intense conditions put people at high risk of death from dehydration, physical exertion, exposure, and other conditions. 

Care for migrants and asylum seekers in Arizona

In 2024, an MSF team worked with nonprofit groups based in Tuscon, Arizona, to assess the medical humanitarian needs of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the border with Mexico. Our activities included identifying the needs, helping to boost supplies at sanitation and hydration points, and supporting training on basic wilderness first aid. The MSF team also assisted mental health providers with training in psychological first aid in addition to supporting social work, health promotion, and addressing issues related to sexual violence.

COVID-19 pandemic response

Early in the pandemic, the need for assistance was so great in the US and Europe—places where MSF rarely works—that we provided support for their overwhelmed health systems, focusing on the most at-risk groups. In 2020, MSF teams in the US collaborated with local authorities and community-based organizations on a wide range of projects, including working with people who are homeless or housing insecure in New York; migrant farmworkers in Florida; Native American communities in the Navajo Nation and Pueblos; and neglected and marginalized communities in Puerto Rico. Our teams also worked with staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Michigan and Texas to offer training on infection prevention and control measures as well as support for mental health and wellness.  

Independent, impartial care

MSF is an independent international organization that provides emergency medical care to the people who need it most—regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. MSF relies on individual donors and private institutions for most of our financial support. We do not accept funding from the US government.