Volunteers dedicated to find stranded migrants near U.S.-Mexico border
Jan 13, 2018, 6:02 PM
This Sunday, April 2, 2017 file photo made with a drone, shows the U.S. Mexico border fence as it cuts through the two downtowns of Nogales. (AP Photo/Brian Skoloff, File)
(AP Photo/Brian Skoloff, File)
A small group of volunteers has made it their mission to help minimize the deaths of migrants crossing the border.
A search-and-rescue group called the Armadillos travels to the U.S.-Mexico border in southern Arizona twice a month to scour the desert for migrants who have become stranded.
In some circumstances, they are contacted by family members of those who have gone missing while attempting to cross into the U.S.
The group consists of about 15 volunteers who hold fundraisers for water, food and other necessities needed to survive in the desert.
Vice News recently followed the group of search-and-rescuers into the desert, capturing their efforts on video.
The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol reported that a total of 294 deaths were recorded between Oct. 2016 and Sept. 2017. In the Tucson and Yuma sectors, 74 deaths were reported.
During the summer months in Arizona, temperatures in the Sonoran Desert can soar to above 120 degrees fahrenheit, causing dangerous conditions for migrants attempting to cross.
