US-Mexico border deaths rise

US-Mexico border deaths rise
By Catherine Hardy with UN, THE GUARDIAN
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

Experts say the figures are particularly shocking as significantly fewer people seem to be attempting to make the crossing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Latest figures suggest more people died crossing the border from Mexico to the US in the first seven months of 2017 compared to the same period the year before.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says 232 migrants have died so far in 2017, compared to 204 in the first seven months of 2016. That is an increase of 17%.

“Dying vs trying”

Experts say the figures are particularly shocking as significantly fewer people seem to be attempting to make the crossing.

The US Border Patrol says the figure is down by around half.

267, 746 people were apprehended in 2016 compared to 140, 024 in 2017.

Which month saw the highest numbers?

July. 50 bodies were recovered, including 10 people who died while being smuggled across the border in a juggernaut.

The IOM is warning that the figure is likely to be an under-estimation. Migrant fatalities often occur while people are crossing vast, empty stretches of land or water.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Joe Biden delivers barnstorming State of the Union address

Trump and Biden romp to victory in Super Tuesday primaries

Judge orders Trump off Illinois primary ballot but puts ruling on hold