US government policies designed to deter asylum seekers have only further endangered the lives of people seeking safety. For example, US asylum restrictions enacted in recent years have forced asylum seekers to remain in dangerous border cities in Mexico while they await appointments with US border officials, where they face violence and extortion at the hands of criminal groups.
Some people left stranded at the border decide the risk of staying in Mexico is too high and end up crossing the into the US without authorization. Many cross into Arizona’s Pima and Santa Cruz counties on foot via the Sonoran Desert—a remote region without shelter or basic services, and several hours away from the nearest hospital. The intense conditions put people at high risk of death from dehydration, physical exertion, exposure, and other conditions.
