Death across the border

Rising death along the U.S/Mexico border

AJO, Ariz. - "A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and it's comunity of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor and who does not remain"

The United States / Mexico border has become a political hotspot of controversy with the Trump Administration's tightening of border security and the oppositions fight to help migrants crossing the border. The border and the land that encompasses it is an unwelcoming place for migrants. Harsh terrain, extreme temperatures, and vicious border patrol agents operating on zero-tolerance policy make crossing a perilous feat that leaves many dead in their efforts.

Map of US/Mex border. Curtesy Business Insider

Map of U.S. - Mexico border. Curtesy of Business Insider

Rather than recognizing that U.S. demand was drawing migrants and crafting proper immigration and labor policy that would take this into account. Instead, the U.S. government launched a policy of "prevention by deterrence", which aimed to make migration so difficult and dangerous that migrants would give up or face the consequences.

Attempting to evade the Border Patrol and their checkpoints, migrants will travel deeper into the U.S. wilderness making the journey significantly deadlier.

Each point on the map below represents a migrant death in Arizona. Since 1981, more than 3000 deaths have been reported and mapped by the nonprofit Humane Borders and the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner.

Click on the numbers to zoom in to find more points
Click on the points to examine attributs about each migrant

The number of migrants dying from extreme heat rose 55 percent in the past 9 months after an increase in unaccompanied children and families trying to enter the U.S. illegally through rough terrain such as the Rio Grande valley

The battle of the aid workers

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Ariz. - Four aid workers arrested while attempting to leave water for migrants crossing the border

In 2018, federal prosecutors in Arizona charged four humanitarian aid workers who left water in the desert for migrants who might otherwise suffer from exposure to the elements and thirst. In another case, the Washington Post reports that federal prosecutors dropped manslaughter charges against a border patrol agent who fired 16 times across the border, killing a Mexican boy. The aid workers face a fine and up to six months in jail.

The crimes made by these aid workers: entering the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge without permits to leave supplies for migrants crossing into the United States.

This is not the first time the U.S. government has come after activists, however the breadth of the campaign against these workers, and the use of the Wilderness act which secured their charges of trespassing was a first. In previous, people wandering around the refuge without proper documents might be sent off with a warning. The Trump administration chose the more severe approach.



No more deaths. Curtesy itsgoingdown.org

No Mas Muertes. Curtesy of itsgoingdown.org



Parker Deighan, one of the four volunteers awaiting trial on a misdemeanor charge in the United States, told the New York Times, "the cases are on the surface is about wilderness. It is about targeting humanitarian aid and targeting care for folks who cross the border. "

These arrests show a glimpse into a larger problem of the United States Border Patrol's attempt to curb immigrants entering the United States. Rather than recognizing that U.S. demand was drawing migrants and crafting proper immigration and labor policy that would take this into account. Instead the U.S. government launched a policy of "prevention by deterrence," which aimed to make migration so difficult and dangerous that migrants would give up.

Heat-related deaths, the main cause of migrant fatalities on the U.S. southwest border, rose to 48, up from 31 over the same period in 2017, said U.S. Border Patrol spokesman Salvador Zamora.

Migrant death rising

This map shows the migrant body discovery through the years of 2001 and 2018



Map of US/Mex border. Curtesy Business Insider

Curtesy of Reuters

The lives of these migrants cannot be forgotten. The tightening security around the border is pushing migrants into deadly lands not fit for human travel.

How You Can Help

A battle over the future is being waged in the capitol, largely by people who do not understand the implications or stopped to consider the impacts of a "zero-tolerance" border. You ca be a voice for the borderlands.



Call your representative and senators

Urge them to oppose the current state of emergency over the lack of borderwall funding.