Humane Borders mans 90 water stations for border crossers
May 21st, 2008 @ 12:53pm
by Jim Cross/KTAR

Although the Border Patrol says apprehensions of illegal immigrants are down dramatically, a Tucson-based humanitarian group is gearing up for a long hot summer helping border crossers.

The Rev. Robin Hoover, with Humane Borders, says his group now keeps 90 water stations in locations across southern Arizona to save migrants heading north.

``It's been astounding to us the amount of water that's being consumed," Hoover said, adding it's about 1,500 gallons a week.

People still are coming across the border and are being pushed into more rugged areas as the Border Patrol beefs up its efforts in the most-traveled locations, according to Hoover.

``If you go to the southwest part of the state, over toward the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, those temperatures will rival those in Phoenix," Hoover said. ``It's not a habitable place for humans."

He said, ``We're out here to take death out of the immigration equation. That's our purpose."

June is always a stressful time as temperatures soar above 100 degrees, he says.

``We're anticipating seeing record-breaking usage of water, but also potential record-breaking numbers of deaths because of the forecast for a very hot summer."

Humane Borders began operations in 2001 with a pair of water stations intended to help prevent deaths of people crossing the Arizona desert.






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