Shura

It’s easy for us to sit back on our cellphones and computers and complain about the migrant crisis along our southern border. In David Damian Figueroa and Kayvon Derak Shanian’s documentary short, Shura, they profile the life of Shura Wallin—one such woman who lives on the front lines.

Shura Wallin is a long-time Arizona resident who lives just miles from the border. The mission of this high-energy octogenarian is to provide aid…any kind of aid possible to migrants crossing the border.

At first, she is engaged in conversation with the pastor and congregants of a local church, who formed the organization Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans. They discuss politics and the problems of a non-existent immigration policy, which leads to a quick overview of the problem.

“The mission of this high-energy octogenarian is to provide aid…any kind of aid possible…”

People are crossing the border for a variety of reasons…political asylum, human trafficking…a better life. The trip through the desert is dangerous, especially if you’re not prepared for the miles-long walk under the brutal sun.

Shura then steps into action as she finds remnants of migrant campfires, busted water bottles, and other unspeakable things. She then goes out into the desert, giving food and water to any migrant she comes across.

No matter where you stand politically on the migrant issue, Wallin unmistakably points out that we’re still talking about individual human lives and not a statistic. Separating the political from the story, no one wants to see people go hungry, thirsty, injured, or die. Shura also points out the role of the cartels and the consequences of not delivering drugs.

Ultimately, it’s not hard to admire someone who puts feet to her rhetoric. It’s also not hard to be frustrated with a bunch of politicians living in the glow of their power thousands of miles away and offering lip service and no solutions.

If anything, watch Shura because politics aside, the Southern Border is a humanitarian crisis.