A deadly detour: Migrant deaths spike outside El Paso

Migrants are dying at an alarming rate in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, particularly in the desert west of El Paso, Texas. The New Mexico Medical Investigator’s Office has seen a significant increase in the number of bodies recovered in recent years, with heat-related deaths being the most common. Many blame Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star for pushing smugglers to use more dangerous routes in New Mexico. Smugglers are also accused of abandoning migrants in the desert, leading to questions about why these deaths are not considered homicides. The situation highlights the dangers faced by migrants seeking to cross the border.