2020 Recovered Human Remains Map
This map is from Humane Borders in partnership with the Pima County Medical Examiners Office. Each red circle represents a recovered human remain.
US Immigration Policy and Death in the Desert
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Since 1999 more than 2000 people have died in the Southern Arizona Borderland. These are women, men children fleeing poverty, and trying to reunite with family. Since NAFTA was passed in the mid-90’s more than 3 million people have been displaced from farms in Mexico. NAFTA has benefited US agribusiness, but devastated small Mexican farmers. US-subsidized agricultural products (corn, sugarcane etc) are cheaper to buy in Mexico than the same produce grown locally.
People in the past crossed the border to work in the US while their families remained in Mexico. Following the passage of NAFTA it was anticipated that more people would come north for work, so politicians closed off the traditional border crossing areas. Walls and increased militarization were employed along the border n Texas, California and Nogales, Arizona; it was thought that the harsh conditions and terrain of the Southern Arizona Sonoran Desert would be a geographical barrier. But our government did not understand the determination of people to find work to feed their families. Their labor has always been needed in the US where many employers, including large corporations, are eager to hire hard working people from south of the border to whom they pay low wages. This has resulted in a disaster region in the Southern Arizona Borderland. Children, women and men die from dehydration, heat stroke and hypothermia. People continue to come out of desperation, to feed their families, and to reunite with parents and spouses from whom they have been separated. The number of deaths continues to escalate. Fewer people are crossing the border and being apprehended, but the percentage of deaths to crossers has greatly increased. |
Latest Recovered Human Remains Report
Data is from Pima County Forensic Center, reporting year starts in October.
Monthly NarrativeNovember Human Remains ReportThe number of migrant deaths reported by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in November was: 14
Additional deaths reported by the Maricopa County OME: 1 from November plus 2 from October Recently found individuals grouped by PMI (Post Mortem Interval): 1 dead less than 1 week 2 dead less than 3 months 10 dead more than 6-8 months 1 not reported yet 1 from Maricopa county, PMI not available Total: 15 Updates for previous cases: 6 individuals newly identified by name (1312 remain unidentified) The 15 deaths discovered in November are a little less than the 18 in October but the pattern is drastically different. Of the cases with an estimated PMI, in October three quarters of the deaths had occurred within the three months prior to discovery (in other words, during the hottest months of the year). On November two thirds of the remains found were dated as more than 6-8 months old. Attached is a map showing the month's deaths; for an interactive version go to: https://humaneborders.info/latest/ Also attached is a table with updated statistics for the last 15 years. For the calendar year to date, the total of 214 deaths suggests that this year could be the worst yet for migrant deaths in Arizona. Previous highs were 223 in 2007 and 224 in 2010. Total deaths currently recorded in our database: 3,385. To generate maps and data from your own custom queries you can consult our interactive mapping site at: https://humaneborders.info/ | ||||
Earlier Recovered Human Remains Maps
Humane Borders Maps2015-2016 Samaritan Patrol Area
2015-2016 Ajo Area
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Derechos Humanos2015-2016 Tucson Sector
April 2017 Samaritan Patrol Area
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