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Report Details How Border Patrol Contributes to Humanitarian Crisis at Southwestern Border

HeadlineFeb 04, 2021

A damning new report by the groups No More Deaths and Coalición de Derechos Humanos finds that Border Patrol agents systematically ignore and dismiss reports of missing migrants and obstruct efforts by families and humanitarian groups to assist or find migrants in the harsh Arizona desert. This is Parker Deighan, who works with No More Deaths and is one of the authors of the report.

Parker Deighan: “The agency’s systematic neglect towards emergency reports of undocumented people in distress constitutes a state crime of historic proportions. Therefore, we don’t advocate for the improvement, expansion or reform of Border Patrol’s supposed humanitarian initiatives. Instead, we call for an immediate end to Border Patrol’s role as sole or primary responder to reported emergencies in the borderlands.”

The group Humane Borders found 2020 was the deadliest year for migrants crossing the border into Arizona at nonofficial ports of entry. The group says the remains of 227 migrants were found on the border last year.

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