Humanitarian Aid: Water Drops Along the US/Mexico Border

The primary goal of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and preserve human dignity. If thousands of humans were dying in your backyard, would you not want to prevent further loss of life?

Humanitarian aid does not take sides. Assistance is delivered on the basis of need, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what they believe in. The only purpose is to provide relief and prevent suffering & is not influenced by political or economic agendas.

What is a Water Drop?

Water drops are cross-country hikes where a group of volunteers carries water (among other life-saving supplies) out into remote areas of the US/Mexico border to minimize death, serious injury, and suffering. All completely preventable.

Several organizations do water drops across the southern US/Mexico border; Al Otro Lado focuses on high-risk & remote desert areas East of San Diego, while others like Border Relief Collective and Border Angels focus on areas closer to San Diego.

Donate Supplies

Interested in joining a water drop? Feel free to reach out!

Are Water Drops Legal?

Naturally, this is most people’s first question. Yes, water drops are legal because they take place on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Humanitarian aid is never a crime, and water is a human right. In fact, the US government is legally required to prevent senseless deaths of migrants and asylum seekers in border areas.

Why Are Water Drops Desperately Needed?

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented 686 deaths and disappearances of migrants on the US-Mexico border in 2022, making it the deadliest land route for migrants worldwide on record, with a huge emphasis on “on record”. There are many reported deaths for a variety of reasons, like Border Patrol undercounting deaths by 60%, and in other cases simply because bodies are never found.

From Al Otro Lado’s website:

The mountain and desert regions along the USA/Mexico border present extreme environmental conditions, including high temperatures in the summer, low temperatures in the winter, geographic isolation, and limited access to water. These conditions create life-threatening risks for individuals walking through remote areas. The Water Drop Program works to prevent death and injury through direct, field-based humanitarian response.

Why I Love Water Drops

Water drops are as fulfilling & rewarding as they are mentally & physically challenging for those who seek to be agents of change. It can be easier for people who enjoy spending time in nature, or people who are comfortable in desert/arid environments. Aside from the obvious physical benefits of staying active and hydrated, there are moments during water drops that reach into the very essence of your being.

The Hike Fix

While there are more than 400 trails in SD County, it can be very difficult to find trails that aren’t overcrowded, especially on weekends. It can absolutely ruin the experience for introverts (me lol), especially when you’re trying to reconnect with or appreciate nature, only to realize there’s no parking available.

Water drops are the complete opposite; there are no trails, just nature. Aside from the volunteers you’re with, you likely won’t see a single other soul the entire hike.

Hikes tend to be medium-difficulty, ranging from 5 to 10 miles, with ~15 lbs of supplies on your back. We drive out together, hike for 4-6 hours, and return safe & sound.

The Desert

I have a love/hate relationship with the desert. Yes, obviously it’s too hot and it can be unbearable at times, but it’s also incredibly beautiful. The more time I spend in the desert, the more I realize just how much I’ve underestimated it. It’s full of life.

Ocotillo trees blooming bright red flowers, attracting hummingbirds.
Valleys of cholla tricking your eyes, looking “hairy” when the sunrays hit their countless needles.
Having an extremely emotional conversation with other volunteers on top of a mountain, when a raven decides to stop by, gracing us with its presence.
Seeing a halo around the sun at zenith, on a +110-degree day, with a white owl flying near us.
Finding a tortoise!?

One of my favorite memories is seeing a pack of bighorn sheep on a nearby hill, when one decided to stand stoically with the sun rising behind it. I had never seen bighorn sheep in person; its silhouette is now ingrained in my mind forever. Like a Lion King moment IRL.

The Cause

I don’t understand why this is so polarizing.

We should be treating migrants with the compassion, care, and dignity they deserve as human beings. They risk it all, leaving everything they know behind, in hopes of a chance at a better life. And they’re met with violence and hatred.

So much hatred that our water is being destroyed. Slashed or shot.

The Environment

In 2025, AOL’s Water Drop program helped remove 1,526 pounds (over 3/4 ton) of waste/trash from the California border. In the last 3 years, we’ve helped remove 4.5k lbs of trash, and we’ve removed as much as 177 lbs of trash in a single day.

Yes, we’re taking supplies deep into the desert, but we also remove any trash we come across, as much as we can carry on our way out. It’s quite upsetting to see so many metallic balloons end up in the desert, but I’m glad we’re there to dispose of them.

Socializing

I’m an introvert. I don’t like people… most of the time. But I also find meaning in deep relationships.

At first, I felt very uncomfortable joining a group of strangers on a full-day hike. That’s a whole day with a bunch of people I’ve never met, driving out of San Diego! It’s not quite that easy to remove yourself from that environment once you’ve started hiking. But having a task at hand made it all much easier to get through. In fact, you don’t even have to talk to anyone. In many ways, silence says everything during a water drop.

Then I started to get to know other volunteers & have made many friendships along the way.

Political Engagement

Meeting people from all kinds of backgrounds who converge on a single cause is quite fascinating. You get to hear their story, motivations, and how it influences their actions. It’s been a great way to hear how others get involved politically in even more ways than I thought were possible.

A Saturday That Helps Someone Survive Against All Odds

There are water drops on a weekly basis; you can sign up whenever and as often as you’d like!

What I Hate

The Heat

Very few people like being under the sun at +120F. Summer water drops during peak summer are very, very difficult and very, very dangerous.

Fortunately, many volunteers are also nature nerds trained & certified in Wilderness First Aid & Wilderness First Responder. Others have worked with Search and Rescue groups in California and Arizona for +10 years.

I’ve learned survival, navigational, and even leadership skills through water drops.

We know the risks, prepare accordingly, watch out for each other, and “embrace the suck” together. It builds character and lifelong friendships.

Waking Up Early

I am not a morning person. At all. But seeing the sun rise while getting ready to go on a water drop evokes many deep emotions. From contemplating your own existence to time slowing down.

Desert sunrises and sunsets are just built different. It’s no wonder why the sun has been worshipped for thousands of years across civilizations.

The Big Picture

It’s difficult not to get discouraged about the current state of our world, where humanity is heading, and how little most people care. I am not optimistic about our future, but at least I can sleep at night.

Carl Sagan phrased it best.