In May, Ivonne Moreno-Rodriguez, Social Work Supervisor at Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC, joined humanitarian workers, faith leaders, and advocates in the 23rd – Annual Migrant Trail Walk through the Sonoran Desert. The seven-day, 75-mile pilgrimage honors migrants who have lost their lives while seeking safety, reunification with loved ones, and opportunities for a better future in the United States.
Despite increasingly restrictive immigration policies intended to deter migration, people continue to flee violence, persecution, poverty, and instability in search of safety and hope. Between May 2025 and May 2026, the remains of 109 migrants were recovered in the Sonoran Desert alone. Of those, only 17 have been identified.
Ivonne carried a cross bearing the word Desconocido (“Unknown”), representing one of the many individuals whose identity remains unknown and whose family members—a spouse, mother, father, children, or siblings—may still be searching for answers.
During the walk, Ivonne became ill and required medical attention. The experience led her to reflect deeply on the migrant whose cross she carried. “When I became sick, there were people around me who cared for me and made sure I received help,” she shared. “I couldn’t stop thinking about the migrant I was carrying. He may have also become sick in that same desert, but there was no one there to help him.”
After being discharged from the hospital, Ivonne was welcomed into the home of a local family who offered her a warm meal, a comfortable bed, and a place to recover. “I experienced the nurturing power of community,” Ivonne noted. “I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if we welcomed every migrant with kindness, compassion, and respect for their dignity, rather than responding with persecution and discrimination.”
As a ministry of faith inspired by Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, the patron saint of immigrants, Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC remains committed to serving immigrant families with compassion while advocating for the humanity, inherent worth, and rights of every person. We honor the lives of those lost and affirm the dignity of those who continue their journey today.
