Migrant Deaths at the Border May Be Up to 40% Higher Than Reported by U.S.

• Underreported Deaths at the Border
• Platform Reveals the Real Numbers
• Migrant Crisis Even More Severe

According to the EFE agency, a new database published by the humanitarian group No More Deaths has exposed a troubling discrepancy in the official death toll of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to data released on Monday, the number of deaths could be up to 40% higher than those reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The Arizona-based organization compared local medical examiner records with CBP’s official reports and found inconsistencies across all border sectors.

The most significant discrepancy was found in the Yuma Sector, where CBP reported 79 deaths during fiscal year 2022, but the alternative database documented at least 118 fatalities.

Platform Reveals Geographic Patterns and Causes

Migrant deaths at the border may be up to 40% higher than reported by the U.S. https://t.co/dQMs3ZZbsp

— Departamento19 (@Departamento19) August 4, 2025

The platform presented by No More Deaths is interactive and allows users to view the precise geographic locations where human remains were found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

The data spans a broad timeframe, from 2002 to April 2025, providing a historical perspective on the issue.

In addition to showing georeferenced data, the tool also classifies deaths by the most common causes.

These include extreme heat exposure, traffic accidents, falls from the border wall, and possible confrontations with Border Patrol agents.

Migrant Death Toll May Be Higher

🗣#Politics | ‘No More Deaths’ exposes underreporting of migrant deaths at the U.S. border, revealing the real figures. Learn more here.

Full article 🗞: https://t.co/Er20xA9VIU pic.twitter.com/RYeIDrfQBw

— Diario Presente (@DiarioPresente) August 4, 2025

No More Deaths explained that the goal of this platform is to offer a clearer view of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the border region.

One of the issues identified by the organization is the frequent errors in CBP’s official records.

In many cases, the data contains omissions or incorrect entries for the name, nationality, or date the body was found.

This severely complicates the identification process and delays notification of the victims’ families.

Greater Transparency on the Numbers Is Urgently Needed

The organization also noted that deaths occurring in hospitals, after migrants are transported from the border, are not always included in the official figures.

They warn that such omissions distort the true magnitude of the ongoing migratory tragedy.

According to spokespeople, this project is only the first step in a broader investigation.

The goal is not only to more accurately count the number of deaths but also to understand the conditions that caused them.

Platform Highlights Migrant Death Map

The digital tool is publicly accessible and can be found on the No More Deaths website.

There, users can explore the data by county, cause of death, year, and exact location—facilitating journalistic, academic, or humanitarian research.

The findings show that the border death crisis not only persists but may be even more severe than previously thought.

CBP has been criticized in the past for not providing updated or detailed data on migrant deaths.

Organizations Demand Attention to the Crisis

With this new database, the aim is to increase pressure for greater transparency in official statistics.

It is also hoped that the information will inform public policies aimed at reducing deaths along border crossings.

The deserts of Arizona and the rivers of Texas are considered the most dangerous stretches of the border due to their extreme conditions.

Many people lose their lives attempting to cross them in search of better opportunities.