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ImmigrationProf Blog
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A new crisis at the border: Traumatic injuries caused by falls from Trump’s 30-foot wall

By immigrationprof

Trump with a section of border wall near Yuma, Arizona, June 2020.  Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
 


Deaths along the U.S./Mexico border are commonplace, especially during the hot summers.  Here is a new twist on dangers at the border.
 
Dr. Alexander Tenorio is a neurological surgery resident at the University of California, San Diego. A a leading expert on traumatic neurological injuries at the U.S.-Mexico border, he has worked with human rights groups to advocate for halting height extensions of border barriers. For The Hill, Dr. Tenorio explains the increase in injuries caused by the U.S./Mexico border wall.

Dr. Tenorio recently joined human rights leaders to brief members of Congress and President Biden’s domestic policy advisors on the public health crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Dr. Tenorio explained to elected officials the unnecessary injury and economic burden that new 30-foot barriers are causing:

“Since the Mexico border wall was raised up to 30 feet, there have been a record number of traumatic injuries from `border falls.’ Our hospital costs and hospital stays have also seen a significant rise. Hospital admissions from border falls have increased almost seven times since 2019, and spinal injuries after border falls have cost an additional $26 million.”

KJ

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