Rate of migrant deaths continues to rise

For weeks the press has been reporting that the number of undocumented people crossing the US-Mexico border has gone down significantly. This drop is a fact, brought about by a combination of the bad economy and a huge increase in Border Patrol agents, border barriers and high tech surveillance.

But the more desperate migrants, hoping they can help their families back home survive or trying to get back to their families after deportation, continue to come. They are being led by professional (often ruthless) smugglers over longer distances through more remote--and much more dangerous--areas. As a result, the rate of migrant deaths continues to rise, in spite of the fact that the number of border crossers has declined. From last October 1 through July 31. at least 140 bodies of migrants were found in the Arizona borderlands.

Tucson's Coalicion de Derechos Humanos is especially worried about the increase in reported migrant disappearances. The week before last, they received calls from family members of nine migrants missing in the desert. Early last week, three more disappearances were reported. They are presently getting almost a call a day from people looking for a lost loved one.

While the recent Obama administration move to put a hold on 300,000 non-criminal deportations is a big breakthrough, comprehensive, humane immigration reform still appears to be far off.