Texas county shaken as migrant deaths rise

[Judi Lynn]

Texas county shaken as migrant deaths rise
By Nick Miroff, The Washington Post
Posted: 05/09/2013 04:19:14 PM PDT
Updated: 05/09/2013 04:19:21 PM PDT

FALFURRIAS, Texas — At the Sacred Heart Burial Park in Brooks County, the graves of dead migrants spread across three sections of the cemetery, topped with plastic carnations and simple aluminum markers staked into the dust.

Lacking names, they carry serial numbers and terse descriptions of the contents below. "Unknown Female," reads a typical one, or "Bones." Another, "Skull."

The newest mounds of dirt are wedged between the road and a drainage ditch. "As you can see, we're running out of space for them," said Benny Martinez, chief deputy of the Brooks County Sheriff's Office. "It is senseless, just senseless death."

For years, the deserts of southern Arizona have been the deadliest place to attempt an illegal crossing into the United States. But the changing economics and geography of illegal immigration are taking a grim new toll in the flat, barren scrublands of South Texas, and especially Brooks County, where the bodies and scattered remains of 129 migrants were found last year.

More:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_23210365/texas-county-shaken-migrant-deaths-rise

[efhmc]

1. This is so sad.