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Immigration See other Immigration Articles Title: Group hopes map shows would-be border crossers the dangers Group hopes map shows would-be border crossers the dangers Susan Carroll TUCSON - An organization that builds and maintains water stations in the desert for undocumented immigrants plans to distribute maps in Mexico warning of the dangers of crossing the Arizona-Sonora border. The Rev. Robin Hoover, president of Humane Borders, said the non-profit, volunteer organization plans to post about 100 maps in the border town of Altar, Sonora, showing locations of water stations, recent deaths and U.S. Border Patrol rescue beacons along a popular stretch of Arizona border. The maps include a warning that says "Don't go! There's not enough water!" but critics said they still could give undocumented immigrants a false sense of security because they show the water stations. "We know for a fact smugglers are exploiting that, telling people there's plenty of water, encouraging people to enter in that area, and it really works against us in our deterrence mission," said Michael Nicley, head of the Border Patrol's Tucson sector. "However, I don't have any problems giving a thirsty person water or a hungry person food." Hoover said the maps simply provide undocumented immigrants with "full information about what they're about to get into." "That's the goal; to inform these people of the dangers," he said. Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said Humane Borders organizers are laying out a road map that helps immigrants cross illegally into the United States. "It may sound humanitarian, but the reality is they simply are promoting illegal activity," he said. "It's a little disappointing to me. It's a felony to harbor, promote, encourage and assist . . . folks to come to this country or remain in this country illegally. I think they're on the verge of breaking the law." But others praised the efforts of Humane Borders, which has sought to reduce the soaring death toll in the Arizona desert since 2001, erecting and maintaining more than 70 water stations on the U.S. side of the border. Since the U.S. Border Patrol launched crackdowns on illegal immigration through California and Texas in the 1990s, the number of undocumented immigrants crossing through Arizona and dying along the way has reached record levels. Last year, the Arizona Republic counted 219 deaths of undocumented immigrants, up from 205 the year before. "Humane Borders is trying to do what is humanly possible to save lives," said Elias Bermudez, executive director of Phoenix-based Centro de Ayuda. "It is so absurd to think that an organization that is doing things to save lives is encouraging them to come here. People are coming here because there are jobs for them." Arrest them. They are committing a felony. Then fill the watering stations with anti-freeze, so they won't freeze up.
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