SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Relations said the number of Mexican migrants who have died while unlawfully crossing into the United States has doubled since President Donald Trump took office.
The Department says 181 Mexican nationals have died during the first four months of this year, more than twice when compared to same time period last year. There were 81 from January-April 2024.
Migrant advocates blame the lack of traditional pathways to get into the U.S.
“It has to do with politics that are closing off any possibility of asylum,” said Pedro Rios, of the San Diego-based American Friends Service Committee. “Someone that would normally present themselves at a port of entry, that opportunity no longer exists for them and it forces them to seek extremely dangerous ways to cross into the United States.”
Rios also blames policies that have led to a “militarization of the border,” and says only the smugglers are benefitting from it.
In January, Trump ordered active duty personnel to the border to help with support missions in California and Texas.
Last month, he took it a step further designating a 60-foot-wide strip of land running along the border, from the Pacific Ocean all the way to El Paso, as a military installation where soldiers and marines could stop and arrest migrants for trespassing on a military base.
Trump called it “sealing the southern border of the United States … repelling invasions.”
Rios says this decision is why migrants are taking more risks turning to smugglers.
“With militarization comes much more groups of people that are profiting off smuggling. They go hand in hand, unfortunately, so people that profit from smuggling make a lot of money and they become opportunistic as we know they are ruthless, their primary concern is making money.”
Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Relations says it’s likely more Mexican immigrants have died, but have not been identified due to the lack of paperwork and forensic personnel who can identify remains discovered in harsh and desolate terrain.
Rios agrees.
“When people make their way into the United States, oftentimes, people that are smuggling them will tell them to get rid of all your identifying information. So, if they pass away in the desert or in the mountains they have no identifying information; It’s much more difficult for the families to be able to find out what happen to them.”
Last year, the remains of 453 people were discovered, but 198 remain unidentified, according to Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations.
Rios added that it’s not just Mexican nationals who are dying while trying to unlawfully enter the United States, but people from all over the world.
Last week, a panga boat carrying more than 16 people capsized off the Del Mar, California coastline. Three migrants, including a 14-year-old boy from India, died.
The boy’s 10-year-old sister remains missing and is presumed dead.
In 2023, a boat overturned in the surf off Point Loma — eight migrants died in that accident.