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Every year, roughly 300 migrants die while attempting to cross the border into Arizona. Men, women, and children make an under prepared and ill-fated trip through the Sonoran Desert. They are often fleeing horrific violence and terrible poverty and are searching for an opportunity to make a life for themselves and their family in America. However, the extreme conditions of the desert claim many lives. It is an unforgiving environment—the land itself is difficult to navigate with dangerous climbs across mountains and down canyons laced with painful plants and venomous animals. Temperatures can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and drop below freezing in the winter. Finding water in the vast Sonoran Desert is nearly impossible. Thus, the primary cause of death is hyperthermia. Many remains are found in the midst of the desert, but others are found near communities and on the side of major highways.

I locate migrant death sites by using the Arizona OpenGIS for Deceased Migrants, a map made by the organization Humane Borders. The organization operates the mapping system and updates it regularly with information about the migrant remains found in the desert. Part of the information they provide are GPS coordinates of the death site. I use the coordinates to find the sites with a GPS unit.  After finding the location, I photograph evidence and artifacts of people who have passed away. This includes human remains, water jugs, footprints, clothing, shoes and a number of other personal effects. I also photograph the last view of the migrant. This view gives a glimpse into their lives, if only of that final moment, and provides insight into the desperation they felt to make the dangerous journey through the desert.