Undocumented Border Crosser Deaths in Arizona: Expanding Intrastate Collaborative Efforts in Identification

Area of Science:

• Forensic Anthropology
• Public Health
• Demography

Background:

• Undocumented Border Crosser (UBC) deaths present a significant challenge for Arizona medicolegal authorities.
• The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner (MCOME) has over 200 unidentified individuals, with a high percentage presumed to be UBCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the increasing number of Undocumented Border Crosser deaths in Maricopa County.
• To develop a comprehensive anthropological understanding of UBC mortality in Arizona.
• To establish a dedicated database for UBC cases at MCOME.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 107 Undocumented Border Crosser cases at the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner.
• Data collection and entry into a new UBC database, modeled after the Pima County system.
• Inclusion of case data into the online Map of Migrant Mortality.

Main Results:

• The study evaluated 107 Undocumented Border Crosser cases.
• The majority of individuals identified were male.
• Age estimates for the analyzed cases ranged from 15 to 60 years.

Conclusions:

• The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner is actively addressing the issue of Undocumented Border Crosser deaths.
• The developed database and inclusion in the Map of Migrant Mortality enhance data accessibility and research potential.
• Findings contribute to a better understanding of migrant mortality patterns in Arizona.