The Mexican consulate in San Diego reported Friday that the number of Mexicans killed trying to cross the border from Tijuana into San Diego has increased by 162 percent over the past three years.
In 2022, 42 Mexican deaths were recorded, compared with 41 in 2021 and 16 in 2020, officials detailed in a statement.
Overall, over the past three years, 646 Mexicans were injured or killed attempting to cross.
Mexican officials said that most of these casualties, including fractures, lacerations and other serious and permanent injuries, were related to the border wall. Only 20 percent of those admitted to the hospital arrived for other reasons, such as dehydration and heat stroke, among others.
The numbers were taken from interviews conducted by consulate officials between the 2020 and 2022 fiscal years.
According to a report released by the University of California San Diego (UCSD), from 2019 to 2022, there is a five-fold increase in the number of boundary wall-related injuries. Health experts attributed this to an increase in the height of the border fence between Tijuana and San Diego, which went from 8 to 17 feet to 30 feet.
In 2019, a project was launched by the then President of the United States, Donald Trump, to replace the miles of fencing put up in the 1990s.
However, this did not deter the plans of some migrants who tried to climb over the border wall.
Border Patrol officials told an event held in 2022 to educate migrants about the risks that some have used ropes or iron ladders to reach the top. But once at the top, some people have not found a safe way down.
Mexican authorities this Friday reiterated a call on migrants not to risk their lives.
“Empirical evidence has allowed us to verify that higher walls have not been able to stop or divert migrant flows, but have only increased the severity of injuries and deaths,” said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. Told. This is a statement.
“People who do not have documents and wish to cross the border into the United States between ports of entry should be aware of the existence of smuggling networks that distort reality, create false hopes, and expose to serious or fatal injury.” He warned. ,
Mexican officials indicated that the interviews conducted by the consulate’s security department made it possible to provide assistance to their compatriots.
Those seeking information on injured or missing persons, as well as those in need of consular assistance and protection, may contact the Mexican Information and Attention Center (CIAM) in the United States at (520) 623-7874 or the Mexican Consulate’s emergency line. at (619) 843-6399.
The email address was also provided: [email protected]
