Southern Arizona migrant-death total on record pace

The discoveries of the bodies of two more migrants who died while crossing the desert in Southern Arizona continued the record-setting pace officials have recorded this year.

Officials with the Pima County Medical Examiners’ office have recovered 152 bodies of suspected illegal immigrants so far this year in the county, a 16 percent increase from the 131 deaths for the same period in 2005.

Dr. Bruce Parks, chief medical examiner for Pima County, said the pace remains well ahead of 2006 and eclipses the record set in 2005.

“It’s scary,” Parks said.

Two bodies were recovered Thursday in Pima County, both near Marana.

The increased number of deaths casts doubt on the U.S. Border Patrol’s assertion that an 11 percent drop in apprehensions means border crossings are down, immigrant advocated said.

The opposite is the case, according to the Rev. Robin Hoover, founder of the Tucson-based Humane Borders group, which places water tanks throughout the desert for use by migrants trying to cross the desert from Mexico into the U.S.

Instead, Hoover said about 30 percent to 40 percent more people are crossing this summer than usual.

“The economy is the biggest player, always has been and always will be, so jobs must be picking up somewhere,” Hoover said. Hotter weather is also a factor in the higher deaths, he said.

Border Patrol officials say that preventing deaths is a top priority. The agency has 45 agents a special search and rescue team and brought in 14 more this summer from California and Texas. From Oct. 1 through June 30, agents had rescued 318 people in 118 incidents in the Tucson Sector, which covers New Mexico to the Yuma County line, agency numbers show.