Arizona's Sonoran Desert is a beautiful, lonely, and potentially dangerous place--the result of U.S. Prevention Through Deterrence Policies. For the last 30+ years, these policies have forced families seeking asylum away from safe ports of entry to remote areas of the desert, in temperatures that can range from below freezing to 120 degrees.

It's physically impossible for a person to carry enough water for a multi-day journey in the desert. So travelers must find sources of water along the way. Without water, a person's brain and vital organs begin to shut down.  Their skin becomes black and leathery. They may stumble, disoriented, and slump up against a tree. Thinking of their loved ones and perhaps saying a prayer, they die under the blistering sun.  Desert animals scatter their remains within days.

People also perish in the desert from other causes, including hypothermia (extreme cold), drowning, gunshot wounds, and natural causes. The victims are men, women, and children of all ages. Each red dot on our death maps represents the spot where one or more migrants perished. The map is interactive; to view what we know about each death, click on the red dot for information on the name, age,  and cause of death (if known), and the approximate time between death and when the remains were recovered. Each red dot tells a story. Each dot represents someone's father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, or loved one. 

Humane Borders' water is for all, and water is essential for all life. Let the courts decide the fate of migrant travelers, not the desert.

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