Migrants Take More Risky—and Sometimes Deadly—Paths to Illegally Enter U.S.
Following border-wall expansion and faster removals to Mexico, migrants opt for remote mountain paths, boats and trains
An overloaded SUV drove through a similar hole cut in the border wall in Southern California and shortly afterward crashed, leaving 13 dead.
May 12, 2021 8:00 am ET
Crossing into the U.S. illegally has gotten more difficult over the past year, leading more migrants to take treacherous and sometimes deadly paths as their numbers have grown substantially in recent months, border officials and aid groups say.
Driven by an expanded border wall and stepped-up enforcement efforts, many people are turning to remote desert and mountain crossings or traveling on overcrowded boats and on railcars. The U.S. policy of sending people back to Mexico quickly is also motivating some migrants to use risky paths or methods multiple times to avoid arrest, officials say.
At least 16 migrants have been killed in accidents near the border since March. Although there aren’t comparable historical statistics, aid groups say the number has been particularly high this year.
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