Fact Check: "As many as 80,000 people have died trying to cross into the U.S. in the last decade."
What We Know
The claim that "as many as 80,000 people have died trying to cross into the U.S. in the last decade" is a significant assertion regarding the dangers faced by migrants attempting to enter the United States. According to data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Migrant Mortality Project (MMP) tracks deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border and reports that the number of deaths has been increasing over the years. However, the specific figure of 80,000 deaths is not substantiated by the data available from CBP or the MMP, which typically reports lower numbers. For instance, the MMP's statistics indicate that the number of deaths in recent years has been in the thousands, not tens of thousands, suggesting that the claim may be exaggerated (source-2).
Analysis
The claim of 80,000 deaths lacks credible support from reliable sources. The CBP and MMP provide detailed statistics on border rescues and mortality, but their reports do not corroborate the figure of 80,000 deaths over the past decade. The MMP's data is derived from a defined set of criteria and geographic areas known for migrant crossings, and it indicates that while the situation is dire, the total number of deaths is significantly lower than the claim suggests (source-2).
Moreover, the sources reporting this claim may not be well-established or may lack the rigorous data verification processes that organizations like the CBP employ. As such, the reliability of the claim is questionable, and it appears to be an overestimation of the actual mortality figures associated with border crossings.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
The claim that "as many as 80,000 people have died trying to cross into the U.S. in the last decade" is unverified due to a lack of supporting evidence from credible sources. The available data from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Migrant Mortality Project indicates that the actual number of deaths is much lower than the claim suggests. Therefore, without further substantiation, this claim should be regarded with skepticism.
