John Hunter and his wife Laura put their political differences aside to install water stations at the border
An adamant Trump supporter and his wife, who despises the US president, are united in a rare mission.
For years, John and Laura Hunter have installed water stations for people crossing the US-Mexico border illegally, saving them from the deadly heat in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert.
John, 65, is a Republican who founded the non-profit Water Stations 21 years ago, when a record number of migrants were dying of dehydration and heat exhaustion.
“I was born here. I was lucky to be born here in the United States where we had great freedom, great opportunity,” the physicist said. “But the guys from the south here don’t have the same opportunities just because their system is different. So if I was one of them, I would come north too.”
His Mexican-born wife Laura joined Water Station as a volunteer and they married years later.
“She didn’t tell me she was a Democrat when I married her. Again, I was duped,” John joked. “When I married her, we weren’t talking politics. All we did was come here and put the water on.”
The marriage has been tested more than ever since Donald Trump won the 2016 US election campaign against illegal immigration.
“I think it created a bit of friction between us because I don’t like Trump,” said Laura, 73. “I don’t like the way he demonizes people, especially the poor because they come from different parts of the world.”
John didn’t vote for Trump in 2016 out of respect for Laura, but likes that the former reality TV star isn’t a typical politician.
“It’s refreshing to find a guy who is himself, even if he’s a jerk,” he says.
Water Stations is supported by hundreds of volunteers and donors who put politics aside to follow their hearts.
“Everyone has a right to their own opinion,” Laura said. “But we all have the same goal, the same goal, to help reduce heat-related deaths in this region.”
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
