Measures to Prevent Desert Deaths Prove Successful
Yuma, AZ July 13-- It appears measures to prevent deaths along the border are working. Not one death has been reported so far this year in the Yuma sector. A special alert system may have helped reduce the number of desert deaths.

"A large part of that is due to those rescue beacons out here that we have. Anybody out here stranded can just hit the button. Someone will be here within ten to fifteen minutes," says Agent Michael Lowrie.

There are about two dozen rescue beacons in the Yuma sector to help illegal immigrants and others in distress.

"It is mostly border crossers, but these aren't out here just for them. These are out here for everybody."

The first rescue beacon was put up in 2002 when the Yuma sector was protected by only ten miles of fencing and barricades. Today the Border Patrol has added more than a hundred miles of barriers. Arrests are down by 94-percent.

"So less people coming over, less chance of having any kind of deaths or injuries," says Lowrie. The numbers seem to support that connection. Rescue calls peaked in fiscal year 2006 at more than 160 calls. Today agents receive about one call a month.

In the past, humanitarian groups have left bottles of water for immigrants crossing the desert. According to agents, those groups have not been active recently in the Yuma area.

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