More on Skyrocketing Border Deaths
A message from Sean Mariano Garciaof the Latin America Working Group in DC, April 18, 2006
Hello all – I wanted to keeppeople informed regarding migrant deaths at the border, and the disturbing jumpin deaths so far this year. We have recently completed the first half ofFY06, and the migrant deaths being reported by the Border Patrol areshocking.
As you may know, the first six months of the year are usually the least busy interms of migrant deaths due to milder weather. In previous years, about60%-70% of deaths take place in the summer months. However, this first half ofthis year has seen a jump from last year, which was a huge jump from yearsprior. This does not bode well for the summer season, which begins soon.
An important note – there is a significant jump in deaths in the McAllen sectorof south Texas – last summer, we also saw the McAllen sector fueling migrantdeaths. While it has not replaced Tucson as the most deadly sector, ithas unquestionably taken second place – and it is not representing a shift inmigrant deaths from region to another, but rather is becoming a secondcorridor.
A final note on these numbers – some of you may have received an e.mail I sentout last week talking about 143 deaths to April 10 – that number is stillcorrect, but note that in the first 10 days of April, there were 11deaths. Those deaths were spread across the border, with significantjumps in Tucson and San Diego.
What is clear in these numbers is that stepped up enforcement efforts arepushing people into remote areas and driving up the death countsborder-wide. It is a strong argument that we need to be careful about howwe pair enforcement with immigration reform – the current approach is killingmore and more people, but the flows are not diminishing.
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Southwest Border Deaths October 1 – March 30
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FY 02
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FY 03
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FY 04
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FY 05
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FY 06
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McAllen
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9
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13
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8
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13
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32
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Laredo
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6
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4
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7
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6
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7
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Del Rio
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9
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6
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2
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4
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5
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Marfa
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0
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0
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0
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1
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1
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El Paso
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3
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2
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0
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8
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15
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Tucson
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14
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20
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31
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56
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46
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Yuma
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1
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4
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7
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10
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14
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El Centro
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21
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17
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12
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5
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3
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San Diego
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6
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10
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10
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9
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9
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Totals
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69
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76
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77
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112
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132
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Sean Mariano Garcia
Senior Associate
Latin America Working Group
sgarcia@lawg.org
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