In May, the desert west of El Paso claimed the lives of eight people, and authorities fear that the death toll will rise as temperatures increase.
“Last year, there were between 16 and 17 deaths, so eight in a single month is a significant number,” said Daniel Medrano, fire chief of Sunland Park, New Mexico, just across the state line from Texas. “We’re not sure what’s happening, but we believe most of them are immigrants.”
The deaths began during the second week of May, around the same time that migrant expulsions under Title 42 ended and online asylum application requirements took effect.
Since then, most migrants who enter the United States outside ports of entry have been placed in Title 8 removal proceedings, which carry penalties such as a five-year ban on receiving future immigration benefits and possible criminal charges for repeat offenders.
“People who don’t use CBP One (the online application) try to cross the desert, and right now, temperatures are extremely high. If migrants don’t travel under the proper conditions, if they don’t have water, we will see tragic situations like the ones we are already witnessing,” said Reverend Juan Fierro, director of the El Buen Samaritano migrant shelter in Juárez, across the border from El Paso and Sunland Park.
Fierro encourages migrants who seek his help to think carefully before placing their lives in the hands of smugglers. “We hope they value their lives and don’t take those risks, because we have already seen lives lost,” the shelter director said.
According to U.S. authorities and advocacy groups, more than 800 migrants died last year while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, making it the deadliest year on record.
Southern New Mexico Desert, “A Death Trap”
Sunland Park is located near the border wall and shares with Mexico a 1,500-meter mountain called Cristo Rey. According to U.S. immigration authorities, Sunland Park and neighboring Santa Teresa are among the busiest migrant smuggling corridors along the southwestern border.
Medrano noted that firefighters do not investigate the legal status of the people to whom they provide lifesaving assistance, but “most of these fatalities are probably immigrants from southern Mexico, Central America, and South America.”
The border wall is more than 1.5 miles from the nearest road (NM 273), and migrants often hide and walk in the opposite direction from any law enforcement patrols they see.
Medrano said they can become disoriented among the sandy hills and mesquite vegetation. In addition, they come from climates very different from that of southern New Mexico, where afternoon temperatures reach 95 degrees and there are few clouds in the sky on any given day.
“Last year, we were seeing many migrants arrive near Mount Cristo Rey. Now we’re seeing them move a little farther west and north,” the fire chief said. “Even though it’s only a mile and a half, the terrain is very mountainous. If you’re not familiar with the area, it’s very easy to get lost. And it’s not even hot yet.”
Sunland Park firefighters responded last Tuesday to assist two people who became lost in the desert after crossing the border wall. They managed to survive by calling—not avoiding—the authorities after spending six hours in the desert.
“A couple around 30 years old who we believe are migrants called 911 using their cell phone and were able to provide us with GPS coordinates so rescue teams could find them much faster,” Medrano said. “That was a huge help; normally, these rescues take between three and four hours. The woman was suffering from severe dehydration and possible heat stroke, so she was transported to a hospital in El Paso.”
Since late 2018, Sunland Park firefighters have frequently responded to emergency calls involving injured migrants. Incidents range from falls from the border wall and falls along the ridges of Cristo Rey to dehydration and the recovery of bodies.
“If you’re thirsty, it’s already too late. You should have been drinking water. One liter of water per hour; one gallon of water per hour if you’re doing heavy work,” Medrano warned. “Sports drinks are very good because of the minerals we need. Energy drinks are very harmful. Caffeine is not recommended during the hot summer months.”
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At Albizu Law Firm, we care deeply about the difficult circumstances migrants face in their search for a new life. The recent news about the tragic deaths in the El Paso desert reminds us of the importance of providing support and legal assistance to those who need it most.
If you know someone who could benefit from our specialized immigration services, we invite you to share this news with them. Sharing valuable information can make a difference in someone’s life and provide them with the legal support they need.
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