New Mexico

Migrant deaths on New Mexico border rise ten fold

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2024

Migrant deaths on New Mexico border rise ten fold

The number of migrant deaths in New Mexico near the U.S.-Mexico border has surged tenfold over the past two years compared with five years ago, alarming new figures have revealed.

According to the experts who handled the data, smuggling gangs are increasingly leading vulnerable migrants into perilous terrain including desert regions, canyons, and mountains west of El Paso, Texas, where surviving the tough conditions is impossible for many.

Recent data reveals that in the first eight months of 2024, 108 presumed migrants, predominantly from Mexico and Central America, were discovered dead near the border in New Mexico, often within just 10 miles of El Paso.

In contrast, only nine bodies were found in 2020 and ten in 2019, while 113 were recorded in 2023.

Border Patrol vehicles survey a steel fence at the Southwest border with Mexico at Sunland Park, New Mexico, Aug. 22, 2024. Ten times as many migrants died in New Mexico near the U.S.-Mexico border in…

Morgan Lee/AP, file

Nearly half this year’s deceased migrants found in New Mexico were women, with the largest segment being females aged 20 to 29.

The reasons behind this spike in fatalities remain unclear, but experts attribute it to harsher treatment by smugglers and the selection of more dangerous routes amid extreme summer temperatures.

Heather Edgar, a forensic anthropologist with the University of New Mexico’s Office of the Medical Investigator, said “Our reaction was sadness, horror, and surprise because it had been consistently low for as long as anyone can remember.”

According to Edgar, his office has been overwhelmed by the upsurge in migrants deaths, having been forced to recruit additional deputy medical investigators to handle the increase in numbers, which came on top of the usual workload of 2,500 forensic cases annually.

Forensic anthropologist Heather Edgar with the Office of the Medical Investigator poses for a portrait outside her office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Oct. 3, 2024. She said the Office’s reaction to the rise of migrant…

Susan Montoya Bryan/AP

As immigration and border security loom large in voters’ minds ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, candidates have focused primarily on preventing migrant entry and deporting those already in the U.S.

However, the increase in deaths has raised urgent humanitarian concerns since smugglers began leading migrants through gaps in the fencing at Sunland Park and over low barriers near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.

Adam Isacson, an analyst for the Washington Office on Latin America said “People are dying close to urban areas, in some cases just 1,000 feet from roads.”

He has called for more water stations, improved telecommunications, and enhanced rescue efforts.

In response to the surge, New Mexico officials are ramping up their crackdown on human smuggling networks, recently arresting 16 individuals and rescuing 91 trafficked people.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has also deployed a surveillance blimp to monitor the migration corridor and set up movable radar towers for better detection.

Officials have introduced 30 new push-button beacons along remote border stretches in New Mexico and Texas to summon emergency medical help, in addition to installing over 500 placards with location coordinates directing migrants to call 911.

This summer, Border Patrol, responsible for securing nearly 6,000 miles of land borders, expanded its search and rescue operations, dispatching more patrols equipped with medical specialists. They have relocated beacons closer to areas where migrants are frequently found in distress.

Border Patrol reported nearly 1,000 rescues of migrants in New Mexico and Texas over the past year, a sharp increase from about 600 rescues the previous year.

Even while overall migration declines following the Biden administration’s major asylum restrictions, the number of deaths in New Mexico now rivals those in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where 114 presumed border crossers were found dead during the same period this year, according to a mapping project by the nonprofit Humane Borders.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press

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New Mexico

Cut your own tree in New Mexico with a $5 permit from BLM

Published

6 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Press Room

Cut your own tree in New Mexico with a permit from BLM

The Bureau of Land Management will begin selling Christmas tree permits in New Mexico on Nov. 24.

Permits will be available at the Farmington, Taos, Socorro and Rio Puerco field offices, as well as at the New Mexico State Office, according to a community announcement. The permits must be purchased before Dec. 24 and cost $5 per tree.

Permits and maps can be obtained over the counter at local BLM offices or, for some locations, online at https://forestproducts.blm.gov. If purchasing online, buyers must have access to a printer to print the permit and map.

When transporting a tree taken from BLM public land, the haul tag provided with the permit must be attached to the tree.

The BLM has developed georeferenced maps compatible with any georeferenced map mobile application. Those with a smartphone can download a map before heading out to harvest a tree by visiting the BLM website.

Before visiting a local BLM office to obtain a permit, it is recommended to call the office to confirm services and staff availability. The locations where permits may be available include:

Rio Puerco Field Office, 100 Sun Ave., NE, Suite 330, Albuquerque, NM 87109, (505) 761-8700
Socorro Field Office, 901 S. Old U.S. Hwy 85, Socorro, NM 87801, (575) 835-0412
New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508, (505) 954-2000
Farmington Field Office, 6251 College Blvd, Farmington, NM 87402, (505) 564-7600
Taos Field Office, 1024 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM 87571-5983, (575) 758-8851

For more information about Christmas tree permits, contact the local BLM office or the BLM New Mexico State Office at 505-954-2222.

This story was created by reporter Andy Dossett, ADossett@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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New Mexico

Lobos give bowl-bound Eck extension to 2030

Published

18 hours ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

Lobos give bowl-bound Eck extension to 2030

New Mexico football coach Jason Eck has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep him with the Lobos until 2030, the school announced Sunday.

In his first regular season as head coach, Eck took the Lobos to a 9-3 record — the program’s best mark since 1982 and only the fourth time they have won nine games since 1997.

Eck’s new deal includes an increase in average salary to $1.75 million from $1.25 million, sources told ESPN.

A former Wisconsin offensive lineman, Eck spent three seasons as head coach at Idaho where he went 26-13 before being hired by the Lobos last December.

New Mexico’s nine-win season and 6-2 record in the Mountain West earned them a tie for first place in the conference. But the conference’s tiebreaker (based on a composite average of nationally recognized metrics: Connelly SP+, ESPN SOR, KPI and SportSource rankings) determined that Boise State and UNLV would face each other in the title game.

If Eck can lead the Lobos to a bowl win, however, it will be the first 10-win season the program has had in 43 years.

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New Mexico

Holiday markets count on shoppers to support small business

Published

1 day ago

November 30, 2025

Press Room

Holiday markets count on shoppers to support small business

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The holiday shopping season is underway, with thousands of New Mexicans visiting local businesses Saturday.

Last night, Winrock hosted a tree lighting ceremony, transforming their shopping center. Today, shoppers enjoyed treats from food vendors and photos with Santa.

Unlike major retailers, small businesses rely on a few peak weekends with high foot traffic. Organizers say the Artisan Market, happening this weekend, attracts thousands each year.

“Our artists work all year for this,” said Raquel Chambers, New Mexico Artisan Market Executive Director. “This is the biggest weekend of the year for them.”

The New Mexican Artisan Market is at Hotel Albuquerque and open for the rest of the weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Next week, Old Town will celebrate the Christmas season with a tree lighting and holiday stroll on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

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