Migrant transport deaths outpace other causes of death
The migrant death toll at the U.S.-Mexico border rose dramatically in 2021. Fueling that rise were vehicle and transport-related deaths, which grew more quickly than any other cause of death between 2020 and 2021. Migrants have increasingly turned to riskier methods of entering the U.S. as enforcement policies along the border have strengthened.
Total migrant deaths
700 deaths
500
300
100
2015
2017
2019
2021
Cause of death
150 deaths
Lack of food and water
Drowning
100
Transport deaths
50
Violence
Sickness
0
2016
2018
2020
Note: The “Total Migrant Deaths” chart includes data through June 18, 2022. The “Cause of Death” chart excludes deaths in which the cause was unknown or a comination of factors. Accidental deaths are also excluded because not all years of data were available.
Source: Missing Migrants Project
Matt Zdun | Reuters, June 30, 2022
Migrant transport deaths outpace other causes of death
The migrant death toll at the U.S.-Mexico border rose dramatically in 2021. Fueling that rise were vehicle and transport-related deaths, which grew more quickly than any other cause of death between 2020 and 2021. Migrants have increasingly turned to riskier methods of entering the U.S. as enforcement policies along the border have strengthened.
Total migrant deaths
Cause of death
Lack of food and water
700 deaths
150 deaths
500
Drowning
100
Transport deaths
300
50
Violence
100
Sickness
0
2015
2017
2019
2021
2016
2018
2020
Note: The “Total Migrant Deaths” chart includes data through June 18, 2022. The “Cause of Death” chart excludes deaths in which the cause was unknown or a comination of factors. Accidental deaths are also excluded because not all years of data were available.
Source: Missing Migrants Project
Matt Zdun | Reuters, June 30, 2022
Migrant transport deaths outpace other causes of death
The migrant death toll at the U.S.-Mexico border rose dramatically in 2021. Fueling that rise were vehicle and transport-related deaths, which grew more quickly than any other cause of death between 2020 and 2021. Migrants have increasingly turned to riskier methods of entering the U.S. as enforcement policies along the border have strengthened.
Total migrant deaths
Cause of death
150 deaths
Lack of food and water
700 deaths
Drowning
100
500
Vehicle and transport deaths
300
50
Violence
100
Sickness
0
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2017
2021
2019
Note: The “Total Migrant Deaths” chart includes data through June 18, 2022. The “Cause of Death” chart excludes deaths in which the cause was unknown or a comination of factors. Accidental deaths are also excluded because not all years of data were available.
Source: Missing Migrants Project
Matt Zdun | Reuters, June 30, 2022