MAE RYAN/THE GUARDIAN

Beyond the Border

A four-part series exposes the brutal violence driving Central Americans to cross the border into the United States — and the deadly risks they take on that journey.

Investigations

Into the Wilderness

To comply with US immigration law, Exelina Hernandez would have to risk her life.

“This Is Our Home”

With migrants streaming through south Texas, landowners are caught between protecting their property and saving lives.

“A Cemetery for Our People”

A Guatemalan diplomat struggles to save her countrymen in south Texas and nearly loses herself.

Lawman’s Burden

A south Texas sheriff's department with dwindling resources struggles to cope with a growing immigration crisis.

In 2012, Texas surpassed Arizona as the deadliest state for undocumented immigrants entering the United States.
Hundreds of migrants die every year attempting to circumvent a Border Patrol checkpoint in Brooks County, Texas.
According to Border Patrol apprehension data, 90% of migrants traversing South Texas 5 years ago were from Mexico.
In 2012, for the first time in 40 years, net migration from Mexico had reached zero.
Apprehensions of Central Americans coming across the south Texas border have tripled since 2011.
Texas' southernmost tip is the most traveled and shortest route for Central American migrants going to the US.