July Sees Highest Migrant Death Toll at Arizona-Mexico Border in 2 Years

Migrant Deaths Surge Amidst Arizona’s Sweltering Summer

As temperatures soared across the Arizona-Mexico border in July, the region witnessed a tragic spike in migrant deaths. According to a recent report by Humane Borders, 19 bodies were discovered last month, marking the deadliest month in two years.

Humane Borders, an aid organization that maintains water stations in Arizona’s desert borderland, collaborates with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office to track migrant fatalities. Their latest findings reveal that most of the deceased had died recently, underlining the ongoing peril migrants face despite reports suggesting a closed border.

“There’s this narrative that… the border is effectively closed — that nobody is crossing. Well, this is pretty clear evidence that, not only are people crossing, like crossing recently, within the last few months, but also dying,” said Brad Jones, a political science professor at the University of California, Davis, and a Humane Borders board member.

Of those recovered in July, five individuals had been deceased for less than a day, two for under a week, and four for less than three months. The harsh summer conditions, coupled with monsoon rains, contribute significantly to the dangers of crossing.

Despite the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies, including changes that have effectively halted the asylum process, migrants continue to attempt the perilous journey. Immigration officers have reported historically low apprehension rates, yet the number of deaths persists.

“Which is of concern, because it leads me to think that, however risky it is to cross through the Arizona desert in a normal year, it’s even more risky and dangerous these days,” Jones emphasized.

Jones further highlighted that intensified border enforcement has historically failed to deter migration. He noted, “The notion that the border is fully closed is always an illusion. If there’s an existential need, or an existential push for migrants or asylum seekers to leave where they’re at, some are going to make the attempt to come here.”

With 73 remains discovered this year, compared to 59 at the same time last year and 103 in all of 2025, the number of deaths in Arizona’s desert may surpass previous years. Humane Borders has documented over 4,500 deaths along the Arizona-Mexico border over the past 25 years.