US-Mexico Border Migrant Deaths
Student Artist: Christian Cayetano
Course: Data Visualization with Lucy HG Solomon
Researcher: Benjamin Nienass, CSUSM Political Science
For my research, I was provided with an article shared by Professor Benjamin Nienass. The article is based on U.S.-Mexico Border Migrant Deaths. The source was overwhelming because it provided a lot of rich information. There was so much information and data charts that it was kind of hard to choose a set of data for my project. After speaking with Professor Nienass, he made me realize what I could focus my project on. His explanation on why there were so many migrant deaths at the border was interesting. Some of the explanation consisted of federal programs like Operation Gate Keep set up in San Diego by the president at that time, Bill Clinton. This operation was established in 1994. He went on to explain that since border security was becoming stricter through the California border, migrants moved eastward and then started migrating through Arizona. The state of Arizona noticed the increase in migrants migrating into Arizona, and they set up something similar to Operation Gate Keep. Only they called it Operation Safeguard. Since that happened, migrants then shifted directions and started entering through Texas. Texas also established a program to stop migrants from entering. They called it Operation Blockade.
My process for illustrating this data was based on a specific chart that I chose, depicting the number of deaths between the years of 1994-2013. I chose 1994 because that is the year of the start of Operation Gate Keeps, which sparked the increase of deaths, and 2013 is the latest date with information of deaths. The reason for the absence of recent data is the border patrol’s lack in releasing specific numbers of deaths, and other agencies to not release data on the bodies that are found.
I constructed what I like to call a 3D Border Map. I took a simple piece of flat wood and drew the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas on it. I cut off the bottom section of the states to create a puzzle-like shape. A representation of Mexico and the United States is shown through the contour. Then with a drill type tool, I outlined the lines of each states to distinguish which state is which. I then glued four wood blocks to the back of the states to raise the entire piece. This was done so when I put the two countries together, you can see an almost 3D Border Map.
By coloring the bottom of the states black, I gave the states borders. My choice of surface was to spray paint the map a metallic color. I wanted, if possible, to get a reflection of what’s being placed on top – almost like a mirror. I chose crosses to depict the deaths of the migrants, a common symbol for death. These crosses were sized from small, medium, and large. Each size represents a specific number of deaths. They were also color-coded into three different colors to represent the three top states; California (Blue), Arizona (Red), and Texas (Green).
Approximate Deaths Calculated
- California 655
- Arizona 183
- Texas 1,040
- California 490
- Arizona 1,095
- Texas 795
- California 170
- Arizona 1,310
- Texas 1,090
Total approximate deaths about 6,828
Chart of Data