Laura Mae Williams from the New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office has been frequenting the U.S.-Mexico borderlands in the last two summers, often having to recover multiple bodies each week. The number of bodies being recovered in the desert just west of El Paso, Texas, has significantly increased over the years, with 121 sets of remains recovered so far this year, compared to only a handful of bodies in previous years. The extreme heat in the area, reaching temperatures well into the triple digits, is the leading cause of death among migrants in the region. Many have spent days in poor conditions in smugglers’ safe houses, making them vulnerable to the harsh desert environment.
The spike in deaths is largely attributed to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, which pushed smugglers to attempt routes west of El Paso into New Mexico. While Abbott’s press secretary blames the federal government for the deaths, officials in New Mexico, including the Medical Investigator’s Office, hold smugglers responsible for abandoning migrants in dangerous conditions. The trend of migrants dying in greater numbers after enforcement efforts push smuggling routes to more remote and dangerous areas is not new.
Dr. Heather Jarrell, the chief medical examiner at the Medical Investigator’s Office, questions why the abandonment of migrants in the desert is not considered homicide by neglect. The deaths highlight the perilous journey migrants face, as well as the heartlessness of smugglers who prioritize their profit over human lives. The situation underscores the need for more humane and effective border policies to prevent further loss of life.
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