A Project of Type Media Center

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The Deadly Checkpoint

A yearlong investigation captured the intense desperation experienced by dying migrants and produced a life-saving influx of search-and-rescue agents to the region.

Investigations

The Real Death Valley

Hundreds of migrants have died in the sweltering Texas brush—some while waiting hours for Border Patrol to respond to their 911 calls.

Muriendo Por Cruzar

Facing brutal weather conditions, hundreds of migrants have died in Brooks County, Texas over the past two and a half years.

Graves of Shame

A Texas Rangers inquiry found "no evidence" of wrongdoing in the botched handling of migrant remains in Brooks County. New evidence indicates rampant violations of the law.

Left for Dead

An undignified end for unidentified migrants in Texas.

Blog posts

The Investigative Fund Wins a Polk, Two National Magazine Awards, and an IRE Medal

Investigative Fund projects took home several prestigious journalism awards this spring.

New America Award
Eppy Award
Clarion Award
New York Press Club Award
Sigma Delta Chi Award
Emmy Award
George Polk Award
Investigative Reporters & Editors Award

Over the past five years the remains of more than 400 migrants have been recovered in rural Brooks County, Texas.
Delayed 911 responses by U.S. Border Patrol and several years of intense drought contributed to a dramatic spike in migrant deaths.
The average emergency response time was 2 hours and 18 minutes, sometimes dragging on beyond five hours.