Border crossings more dangerous despite sharp drop in attemptsUPI, Aug 5, 2017, Eric DuVall
Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The U.S.-Mexican border has become a deadlier place in 2017 than a year ago despite a sharp drop-off in the number of attempted illegal crossings, a new report shows.
A report by the International Organization for Migration, a branch of the United Nations, said there were 232 deaths associated with individuals trying to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexican border in the first seven months of 2017. A year ago at that time, 204 deaths had been recorded.
The majority of deaths are a result of exposure to the harsh desert conditions. July was the deadliest month for border crossings on record this year, coinciding with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees much of the time.
The report also showed attempted crossings have decreased nearly by half in 2017, according to data collected by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The decrease tracks with U.S. President Donald Trump's election after a campaign built largely on promises to crack down on undocumented immigration.
More:
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/08/05/Border-crossings-more-dangerous-despite-sharp-drop-in-attempts/4401501973196/
