Tragic Deaths of Migrants in Arizona and Texas Amid Record Heat
High temperatures and dangerous conditions have led to the tragic deaths of several migrants attempting to cross the US-Mexico border. In Arizona, three Mexican migrants died in the Sonoran Desert due to extreme heat, while in Texas, three individuals drowned in the Rio Grande.
Arizona: Deadly Heat in the Sonoran Desert
The US Border Patrol reported the deaths of two men, ages 44 and 18, and a 17-year-old girl in the Sonoran Desert near Sheep Mountain, Arizona. The group of four attempted to cross the border amid temperatures reaching 110ºF to 115ºF (43ºC to 46ºC). One member of the group survived and was rescued. The bodies were taken to the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy, and the Mexican Consulate was notified.
The excessive heat alert in Arizona extends to the Lower Colorado Valley and southeastern California, with temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas also reaching dangerous levels. Justin De La Torre, deputy chief of the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector, emphasized the deadly conditions migrants face: 'The terrain along the border is extreme, the unrelenting summer heat is harsh, and the remote areas where smugglers take migrants are deadly.'
Texas: Drownings in the Rio Grande
In El Paso, Texas, three people drowned in the Rio Grande while attempting to cross from Chihuahua, Mexico. Rescue teams from Sunland Park, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, arrived too late to save them. The high water levels and barbed wire along the river complicated rescue efforts. The victims were presumed to be migrants, and a fourth person remains unaccounted for.
Extreme weather conditions in Sunland Park, with temperatures reaching 105°F (40.6°C), have increased the number of incidents in the Rio Grande. The presence of barbed wire, installed by the Texas government, has also been a point of contention. Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the use of barbed wire as a deterrent against illegal crossings, despite criticism and legal challenges from the Biden administration.
- In Maricopa County, Arizona, there have been six heat-related deaths so far this year, with an additional 111 deaths under investigation for possible heat-related causes. Last year, the county reported 645 heat-related deaths, a 50% increase from 2022. This alarming trend has raised concerns about protecting vulnerable groups from extreme temperatures.
- The legal battle over the barbed wire installation along the Texas-Mexico border continues to be a contentious issue. Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to defend Texas' constitutional authority to secure the border, while critics argue that such measures endanger lives and complicate rescue efforts. The Biden administration has requested the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to cut the barbed wire to facilitate rescues.
