🌵 After El Paso’s Border Crackdown, Migrant Deaths Surge in New Mexico Desert
🚀🛠️ FAA Clears Starship Flight 8, Finds No Damage or Injury After March 6 Mishap 🌍 Asylum Seekers Shift Focus to Other Countries After U.S. Appointment Cancellations
🌵 After El Paso’s Border Crackdown, Migrant Deaths Surge in New Mexico Desert
Uriel J. García, The Texas Tribune.- Following El Paso’s participation in Operation Lone Star, a surge in migrant deaths has occurred in the desert regions of New Mexico. From September 2023 to August 2024, 299 bodies were found, marking a drastic increase from previous years. Volunteers like Abbey Carpenter and James Holeman, part of Battalion Search and Rescue, have reported finding human remains near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Experts and immigration advocates assert that the policies pushing migrants into more dangerous terrains are directly responsible for the rise in fatalities. While Operation Lone Star, led by Governor Greg Abbott, aims to curb illegal immigration, it has unintentionally forced migrants into treacherous routes. Critics argue that these policies come at a severe human cost, with many of the bodies left unidentified due to inadequate resources for recovery and identification.
Key Data:
El Paso joined Operation Lone Star in December 2022.
299 migrant deaths were reported in the El Paso sector from January 2023 to August 2024.
Battalion Search and Rescue volunteers have discovered 27 human remains sites since 2023.
1,500+ bodies found in New Mexico since 2021, with a significant increase in unidentified remains.
Experts warn that policies pushing migrants into the desert are contributing to the death toll.
🚀🛠️ FAA Clears Starship Flight 8, Finds No Damage or Injury After March 6 Mishap
Steve Clark, The Monitor.- The FAA has closed its investigation into SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8, which ended in the disintegration of the Starship S34 over the Caribbean on March 6, 2025. The mishap, caused by a failure in one of the Raptor engines leading to propellant ignition, was the second such incident in seven weeks. The investigation found no injury or damage to the public or property. SpaceX identified eight corrective actions, which were implemented before Flight 9. During Flight 9 on May 27, Starship S35 lost control, resulting in the activation of the autonomous flight termination system. The FAA is overseeing the investigation into Flight 9, and SpaceX aims for a faster launch cadence with upcoming flights.
Key Data:
Starship S34 disintegrated 10 minutes after launch on March 6, 2025.
Root cause identified as a hardware failure in the Raptor engine.
No public injuries or property damage reported.
SpaceX implemented corrective actions for Flight 9.
Flight 9 on May 27 experienced a loss of attitude control leading to destruction.
SpaceX aims for faster launch cadence, approximately every three to four weeks.
🌍 Asylum Seekers Shift Focus to Other Countries After U.S. Appointment Cancellations
Kate Morrissey, Voice of San Diego.- Thousands of migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, are reevaluating their options after the Trump administration canceled asylum appointments and suspended the asylum process at U.S. ports of entry. As shelters empty, many migrants have decided to either return home or seek refuge in other countries, including Canada and Europe. The cancellation of asylum appointments and the uncertainty of U.S. border policies have left many feeling desperate. Some, like Max from an undisclosed country, are exploring visa options in hopes of rebuilding their lives elsewhere, while others struggle with the complexities of applying for refugee status in Mexico. Legal organizations, including Al Otro Lado, continue to fight against the closure of the asylum system, demanding access to asylum at the U.S. border. The ongoing plight reflects both the challenges migrants face and the shifting dynamics at the U.S.-Mexico border.
🚶♂️🛑 "There Are No Migrants" in Tijuana as Crossings Drop Amid Tightened Border Policies
James Wagner, The New York Times.- Tijuana, long a hub for migrants seeking to cross into the U.S., is now experiencing an unprecedented drop in arrivals. Once packed with families and asylum seekers, shelters have emptied as fewer migrants attempt the dangerous journey. This decrease follows stricter U.S. policies under President Donald Trump, who shut down asylum appointment apps and imposed harsh border enforcement measures. In April 2025, U.S. apprehensions plummeted to 8,383 from a high of 129,000 a year prior. Migrants like Venezuelan Lenis Mojica, once hopeful of reaching the U.S., are now considering staying in Mexico due to uncertainty. Tijuana’s shelters now report fewer residents, with many either returning to their countries or settling in the city. Local activists and shelter founders question the continued rhetoric of a “migrant invasion” as the flow of people dwindles.
Key Data:
Tijuana, historically a key migrant gateway, now reports significantly fewer arrivals.
U.S. border apprehensions fell dramatically, from 129,000 in April 2024 to 8,383 in April 2025.
Shelters in Tijuana have thinned, with some now housing fewer than 100 migrants.
Migrants like Lenis Mojica are reconsidering staying in Mexico due to the uncertainty of U.S. entry.
This is horrific