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IOM worried by rise in deaths of migrants crossing US-Mexico border

IOM worried by rise in deaths of migrants crossing US-Mexico border

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The drowning of a five-year-old child in the Rio Grande river this week and the recent discovery of 10 bodies in the back of a tractor-trailer in Texas are harrowing reminders of the dangers undocumented migrants face in their attempts to enter the United States.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that so far this year, more than 230 people have died trying to cross the border from Mexico; a 17 per cent rise over 2016 numbers.

Dianne Penn has been speaking to IOM spokesperson Joel Millman who says the increase is worrying, given that the US Border Patrol reports that fewer people overall are trying to enter the country this year.

Duration: 5’07”

Photo Credit
UNHCR/Markel Redondo