Two Migrants Shot Along Roadway in Rural Texas

[Olioxenfree]

Makes me wonder just how often things like this happen.

That was my first thought. I bet Mike and Mark (and probably some others) have notches.

I don’t live near the border so I may be dead wrong but I’m not aware of this happening a lot.

I have a good friend from college who lives on the border and it happens a whole lot more than you think. She’s a forensic anthropologist and her job is to go out and try to identify the bodies found along the border. She uses their bones to estimate age and region of origin and then uses their clothing and belongings to try to narrow down where they came from. Many died from exposure, dehydration, etc. but they find a fair share that were murdered. Even in the case of the ones who died from dehydration and exposure, there are still many cases where foul play was involved. Home guard wannabes drive out into the dessert and destroy the water stations, so migrants cant use them and end up dying.

[Valentina327]

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

You are honestly trying to defend the racist idiots and justify this murder, blaming it on the victims? Disgusting.

Who's defending anything? Must be time to manufacturer some outrage! Reread my comment again, slowly, so that you can understand it.

I'm agreeing that it seems we're likely seeing more of it and saying that we likely will because it's so out of control down there. Locals are feeling desperate it seems.

And I think you and your constant sanctimony are disgusting as well! Reading comprehension is your friend pumpkin!

[SallyMae]

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

What should they be doing? What border policies would you like to see?

[Olioxenfree]

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

You are honestly trying to defend the racist idiots and justify this murder, blaming it on the victims? Disgusting.

Who's defending anything? Must be time to manufacturer some outrage! Reread my comment again, slowly, so that you can understand it.

I'm agreeing that it seems we're likely seeing more of it and saying that we likely will because it's so out of control down there. Locals are feeling desperate it seems.

And I think you and your constant sanctimony are disgusting as well! Reading comprehension is your friend pumpkin!

Being condescending doesn’t make you look any smarter, just so you know. I comprehended your post just fine. If you don’t like what I said, that’s on you.

[hotspice58]

People under pressure from a body’s inaction?! Like brown and black people and law enforcement?!

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

[SouthernIslander]

That was my first thought. I bet Mike and Mark (and probably some others) have notches.

I don’t live near the border so I may be dead wrong but I’m not aware of this happening a lot.

I have a good friend from college who lives on the border and it happens a whole lot more than you think. She’s a forensic anthropologist and her job is to go out and try to identify the bodies found along the border. She uses their bones to estimate age and region of origin and then uses their clothing and belongings to try to narrow down where they came from. Many died from exposure, dehydration, etc. but they find a fair share that were murdered. Even in the case of the ones who died from dehydration and exposure, there are still many cases where foul play was involved. Home guard wannabes drive out into the dessert and destroy the water stations, so migrants cant use them and end up dying.

I know quite a few people who either live there or use to live there.

I didn’t say that it doesn’t happen but I’m not aware of a bunch of right wing extremists running around randomly killing migrants.

Was your friend able to confirm who committed the murders?

[Lemons]

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

You are honestly trying to defend the racist idiots and justify this murder, blaming it on the victims? Disgusting.

Who's defending anything? Must be time to manufacturer some outrage! Reread my comment again, slowly, so that you can understand it.

I'm agreeing that it seems we're likely seeing more of it and saying that we likely will because it's so out of control down there. Locals are feeling desperate it seems.

And I think you and your constant sanctimony are disgusting as well! Reading comprehension is your friend pumpkin!

I read it slowly and hopefully not too many people think like you. Two guys go hunting for Mexicans with guns because the poor things are under so much pressure is pretty much what you’re saying.

That’s some fucked up excuse making for murdering another human.

[mommy_jules]

Makes me wonder just how often things like this happen.

I wouldn’t know how much it happens, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw more of headlines like this in the future.

[SouthernIslander]

It probably is on the increase and we'll probably start to see more of it. I don't think it's very surprising.

The longer the border goes completely unchecked and illegal immigrants keep pouring in like water through a sieve, the more pressure the local residents who have to tolerate the fallout from this without any kind of relief are going to feel.

When people are put under pressure and see complete inaction from the body that's supposed to protect them, they're going to feel that they have no alternative but to take matters into their own hands.

It's instinct to defend yourself against what you see as a predator. It's how we've survived as a species for thousands of years.

What should they be doing? What border policies would you like to see?

I wish I knew the answers to this myself.

[SallyMae]

What should they be doing? What border policies would you like to see?

I wish I knew the answers to this myself.

There are some answers. I can tell you what people who study the issue have to say.

Prior to 1986 most migration from Mexico was circular; that is, when people came here to work they usually went back home again after making some money. In the 80s a moral panic was drummed up about "The Latino Invasion" and there was a massive increase in border security. This interrupted the circular migration and raised the incentive for people to just stay in the U.S., paradoxically driving illegal immigration rates way up.

So one answer is to allow larger numbers of temporary work visas. These encourage people to come here and work for awhile, but maintain roots in their home country, and return when they have made some money. It discourages people from moving their families here.

Another answer would be to create a level of judiciary at the border that could quickly decide applications for amnesty. The possibility of a quick refusal makes the long journey too big of a risk for many. We also need to coordinate our law enforcement with other nations to crack down on trafficking. Lastly, we need to address poor living conditions in the home countries of immigrants, often due to the machinations of world powers (including the United States.)

These are the kind of serious policy recommendations that people need to be aware of if they want to solve the border crisis. But, they don't fit the narrative that better borders just keep more people out.