EL PASO, Texas — New data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped dramatically, reaching their lowest levels in years. But while crossings have slowed, border advocates say the human toll of migration has not.
According to CBP, illegal crossings in September fell to 26,002 nationwide, marking a 93% decrease from the peak of President Joe Biden’s administration. Officials also reported zero parole releases for the fifth consecutive month, crediting enforcement measures for what they called “the most secure border in American history.”
Despite the progress federal officials describe, members of the Border Network for Human Rights (BNHR) in El Paso are using the Day of the Dead season to remind the public of those who have lost their lives seeking safety or opportunity in the United States.
“What we are doing here in our community is remembering the people who have died along the U.S.-México border,” said Alan Lizárraga, a spokesperson for BNHR.
The organization built a series of small altars this week to honor migrants who died during their journeys north. While CBP has not yet released an official figure for migrant deaths this fiscal year, hundreds have died in recent years, often due to heat exposure and dehydration in remote desert areas.
Lizárraga says that even as migration slows, the dangers persist and may even increase due to stricter enforcement policies.
“We believe that migrant deaths and the policies that we have have a direct correlation,” he said. “We are seeing policies pushing people to take alternative routes that are dangerous because of the terrain and conditions they go through.”
The BNHR also highlights concerns over deaths of those in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, 18 people have died in ICE custody over the past year, twelve of them between December 2023 and September 2024, with causes ranging from leukemia and strokes to suicide.
“Regardless of whether migration is high or low, we still have a system that doesn’t care about their lives,” Lizárraga said. “We are spending so much money militarizing the border instead of fixing a broken immigration and asylum system.”
For now, CBP officials say their focus remains on maintaining control of the border, while advocates continue calling for reforms they believe would make the journey safer for those who still decide to take it.