Every year, many people from Mexico try to cross into the United States for a better life. Some of them do this without proper documents, hoping to find jobs and support their families.
But in recent months, the number of Mexican migrants dying while trying to cross the US-Mexico border has gone up sharply. This article explains why this is happening, where it is happening, and what experts are saying about it.
Deaths at the Border Have Doubled Since January 2025
According to Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE), 181 Mexican migrants died at the US-Mexico border between January and April 2025. This is double the number from the same time in 2024, when 91 people lost their lives.
These numbers are only the ones that have been confirmed. Many more people may have died, but their bodies haven’t been found or identified. Often, it’s hard to know who they were because many migrants carry no documents with them. Some even throw away their ID papers on purpose, following advice from smugglers.
Why Are More People Dying?
Experts say that the main reason for this increase is tougher border enforcement. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the US has made it harder for people to cross the border. New policies include more soldiers guarding the border and more fences and barriers in key areas.
Because of this, many migrants are now trying to cross through very dangerous and remote places to avoid being caught. These routes often go through deserts or mountains, where it’s easy to get lost or face extreme weather.
Javier Urbano, a migration expert in Mexico, says these policies are forcing people to take riskier paths. “In these remote areas, many people die, and their remains are never found,” he told El Sol de México.
Harsh Conditions in Arizona-Sonora Border Area
Most of these deaths are happening along the Arizona-Sonora border. This region has extreme weather, with daytime temperatures going over 50°C and freezing conditions at night. Many people die from heatstroke, dehydration, drowning in rivers, or hypothermia.
The SRE says more women and children are dying too. In fact, over the past three years, there has been a 22% increase in the number of female and child migrants found dead. This shows that the journey is becoming more dangerous for families and not just adult men.
Smugglers Often Tell Migrants to Hide Their Identity
Another reason why so many deaths go uncounted is because of smugglers. These are people who are paid to help migrants cross the border illegally.
According to Pedro Rios from the American Friends Service Committee, smugglers often tell migrants to throw away any ID cards or papers before crossing. This makes it much harder for families to know what happened if their loved ones go missing.
“When people die in the desert or mountains, there’s no way to identify them if they had no documents,” Rios told Border Report.