Tenfold Increase in Migrant Deaths at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Recent statistics reveal a significant increase in the number of migrant deaths near the U.S.-Mexico border over the past two years. According to a report by the Associated Press published on Tuesday, October 16, the number of migrants who have died at the New Mexico border, close to the U.S.-Mexico border, in the past two years is ten times higher than the number during the previous five years. The rise in mortality rates has continued even with a decrease in migration across the U.S.-Mexico border following the implementation of major asylum restrictions by U.S. President Joe Biden. Human smuggling gangs lead these migrants, who are exhausted, dehydrated, and malnourished, into the hot deserts, valleys, and mountains west of El Paso, Texas. According to the latest data, in the first eight months of 2024, the bodies of 108 migrants, primarily from Mexico and Central America, were found near the border in New Mexico, located less than 6 kilometers from El Paso. The remains of 113 migrants were also found in New Mexico in 2023, while this number was only 9 in 2020 and 10 in 2019. Nearly half of those who died this year in New Mexico were women, with women aged 20 to 29 constituting the largest group among these deaths. The report notes that it is still unclear why more migrant bodies are found in that area, but many experts believe that smugglers are treating migrants more violently and leading them into routes that are more dangerous in the extreme summer heat. Migration and border security are among the main concerns of voters in the presidential election on November 5, but candidates have focused more on preventing migrants from entering the U.S. and deporting those currently in the country. The increase in deaths is a humanitarian concern for human rights activists, as smugglers guide migrants through gaps in the fence in the border city of Sunland Park and also through shorter barriers located west of the border crossing near Santa Teresa. New Mexico authorities have recently arrested 16 individuals and rescued 91 human trafficking victims while focusing on human smuggling networks. The U.S. Border Patrol has announced that it has rescued nearly a thousand migrants near the New Mexico and West Texas border in the past 12 months, a significant increase compared to about 600 last year. The rise in migrant deaths in New Mexico has coincided with human-induced climate change and the potential increase in heat waves. This year, the El Paso area experienced its hottest June on record, with an average temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius, which can pose serious risks for those who have been without adequate water and food for months on their journey to the U.S.