Last year marked a tragic milestone as one of the deadliest periods for migrants attempting to cross the southern U.S. border, with experts attributing the increase in fatalities to stricter enforcement measures that push individuals to take perilous routes, including swimming across the Pacific Ocean from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego. Reports indicate a significant rise in drownings, with Tijuana lifeguards documenting a record number of deaths in recent years.

The Tijuana coastline, often bustling with families enjoying the beach, conceals a dangerous reality beneath its surface. The border wall extends over 200 feet into the ocean, creating powerful rip currents that pose a severe threat to those attempting to swim around it. Lifeguard captain Luis Hernandez warns that the currents are unforgiving, lacking any safe points for exhausted swimmers to rest.

Statistics reveal a stark increase in migrant rescues and drownings: from just five rescues in 2020 to 59 in 2022, followed by 41 last year. Migrants often resort to using the wall as a makeshift staircase or cling to sharp shellfish growing along its base, leading to numerous injuries. U.S. lifeguards, particularly in Imperial Beach, report that many migrants are not strong swimmers and often enter the water fully clothed, carrying heavy backpacks, which exacerbates their struggles against the currents.

The situation has worsened since the replacement of the border wall with a taller structure in 2019, correlating with a rise in drownings. A study from UC San Diego highlights this trend, noting an increase from one drowning in the four years prior to the wall's replacement to 33 in the subsequent four years. While the study does not directly link the wall to the increase in drownings, it underscores the urgent need for awareness among emergency responders and healthcare systems regarding the rising number of drowning-related incidents.

As drowning remains a leading cause of death for migrants globally, particularly in treacherous waters like the Mediterranean, the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border continues to demand attention and action to prevent further loss of life.