Published: 09.12.2007
Pima County Supervisors approve desert water stations funding
GARRY DUFFY
Tucson Citizen
Pima County Supervisors Tuesday approved another year of funding for water stations in the desert - over the objections of critics who claimed that such a contribution violates federal law.
The supervisors voted 4-1 to provide $25,000 for a sixth consecutive year to Humane Borders, a faith-based group who members fill and maintain about 90 such stations set out in the Sonoran Desert.
The critics said that federal law prohibits the county from providing such funding, maintaining that the stations encourage illegal immigration.
Supporters of the funding for the stations said that illegals come to this country to escape desperate situations in the home country and they will continue coming whether the stations exist or not.
As of this month, 168 illegal immigrants have died in the desert in the border Patrol's Tucson District in 2007, said Supervisor Ann Day.
"The water stations we put in the desert save lives," Mark Townley, president of Humane Borders, told the supervisors.
Critics said that is irrelevant.
"Putting water out there encourages a person to come and the law says it is against the law to do this," Wes Bramhall, a longtime anti-illegal immigration activist, told the supervisors.
Day cast the single dissenting vote.
Day said "we also could be encouraging criminal activities" like smuggling.
Board Chairman Richard ElĂ*as dismissed the stations present a potentially deadly enticement to illegal crossers.
There are fewer deaths in desert areas where the stations are located than where none exist, ElĂ*as said.
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