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Migrant trail: Borderlands facts and statistics

There are varying borderland statistics. Some of this data was obtained from the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).

Border Crossings

  • Almost 20 percent of crossings into the United States from Mexico in 2004 were made on foot, while bus crossings only constituted 1.4 percent of crossings from Mexico.
  • In 2004, there were more than 20 million pedestrian crossings in Texas alone.
     

Border Enforcement

  • In fiscal year (FY) 2004, 1,139,282 immigrants were arrested on the southern border.
  • The number of border deaths for FY 2008, as of April 24, 2008 is 138 (estimates from Department of Homeland Security). The summer months (May-July) or “death season” usually result in the greatest number of fatalities.
  • Since 2002, Mexico has launched several major initiatives, both independently and bilaterally with the United States, to address cross-border issues such as security, organized crime, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. Some of these have resulted in humanitarian aid for migrants – others have not.