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Mission

Los Desconocidos is creating a quilt, made of recycled migrant clothing found at lay-up sites along the US/Mexico border, with approximately 5,000 names of those who have perished in the borderlands. Our mission is to raise awareness about the causes of migration, and the deleterious U.S. foreign and domestic policies that have created the immigration crisis.

Migrant Quilt

The Migrant Quilt Project includes all the names of people who perished along the US/Mexico border. In recognizing the thousands of people who died because of inhumane policies like Operation Gatekeeper, Operation Hold the Line and Operation Safeguard, Los Desconocidos raises awareness and questions regarding the efficacy of such policies. 

The Migrant Quilt is made from jeans found at lay-up sites in the Sonoran Desert.   We recycle the clothing, washing it thouroughly, and then use the clothes to create the quilt. 

If you are interested in the project, please contact us at our contact link. 

Please urge your school, church or organization to commission a migrant quilt panel to honor the men, women and children who have perished along the US/Mexico border because of deleterious policies like NAFTA, CAFTA, Operation Gatekeeper, Hold the Line and Safeguard.      

Each quilt panel contains the names of individuals who died in a specific year in a specific sector.  For example, between 2004-2005, 279 people died in the Tucson sector (data according to Derechos Humanos).  The panel should contain all the names of those who perished, made from the fabric that  Los Desconocidos provides.   We will also provide the names, the sector and fiscal year the migrants died along the border. 

You will need to supply fabric to adhere the squares to.  Cotton, poplin or canvass (preferable) are durable and will withstand time.  Please stitch the squares to the fabric.  Please don’t use batting between the quilt and the backing so it lays or hangs flat.        

Please decorate your panel with dignity.  Please include a backdrop for your quilt, such as nature scenes, maps, symbols, etc.  Also include on your quilt the Sector and year across the top of the quilt with 12 inch letters/numbers.  You can sign your quilt at the bottom right-hand side in letters no larger than 6 inches. 

Embroidery works well, use bright color thread so the names are readable.

 Fabric Paints are great too. (If you choose to use other paints make sure they are waterproof)

 Stitching names with other fabrics provided by Los Desconocidos creates stunning squares.

 Appliqué or Machine Embroidery create excellent squares.   

 Thank you for your interest in The Migrant Quilt Project!