The University of California, San Diego’s trauma center (UCSD) saw a notable rise in 2023, treating 455 patients for severe injuries sustained during US-Mexico border crossings, a jump from the previous year.
Sharp Increase in Injuries
A whopping 97% of these injuries, amounting to 441 cases, occurred due to falls from the wall on the US side, as reported by Alexander Tenorio, a UCSD resident neurosurgeon specializing in brain and spinal cord injuries.
A Fraction of a Greater Problem
These figures reflect only a fraction of the injuries related to border crossing near San Diego, considering the center is just one of two major trauma facilities in the area.
A Disturbing Rise
It’s worth noting that not all injured migrants, especially those with less severe injuries, reach a hospital, and this data excludes children. Yet, these figures starkly reveal the growing and profound human cost of the border crossing.
In comparison, the center documented 311 injuries in the previous year, 254 in 2021, 92 in 2000, and 42 in 2019.”
Severe Body Fractures
“A lot of these [patients] come with fractures all over their body, unfortunately, and that’s what you would expect if someone falls 30ft. It’s like a three-story building,” Tenorio stated.
Diverse Injuries
Tenorio also revealed that patients admitted to the trauma center often suffer from a range of severe injuries, including broken limbs, damage to abdominal organs, facial trauma, and spinal fractures.
Healing Challenges
He emphasized the gravity of these injuries, stating, “A lot of these injuries unfortunately don’t heal on their own because they’re so severe and extensive,”
Critical Surgical Interventions
Tenorio noted that many patients require urgent surgeries, such as craniotomies or spinal cord operations. Interestingly, only 14% of those who underwent spinal surgeries returned for follow-up clinic visits, posing challenges in evaluating long-term outcomes.
A Shift in Gender Dynamics
In a noteworthy shift in 2023, the center observed more women than men being treated for border-related injuries, including falls.
18-30ft Walls
Since 2017, there has been an emphasis on constructing a more formidable border barrier, a project initiated under Donald Trump and continued under the Biden administration, replacing old barriers with steel pillars ranging from 18 to 30 feet.
Surging Encounters
Encounters between federal agents and individuals attempting to cross the US-Mexico border have been on the rise each year, as per government data. Specifically, in the San Diego sector, there were 230,941 land encounters recorded by the border patrol in fiscal year 2023.
This rise aligns with the global trend of increased migration to affluent countries.
Healthcare Strain
UCSD and other southern border healthcare facilities are noticing an increase in the number and severity of injuries from border crossings, especially due to the heightened wall.
Tenorio believes the recorded injuries are just a fraction of the actual number.
Inadequate Medical Care
At California’s US-Mexico border camps, volunteers are concerned about inadequate medical care in San Diego’s open-air detention sites.
Migrant treatment varies, often relying on individual border agents’ judgment.
Recounting an Injury
One volunteer, Lynn, recounted a distressing case of a severely injured woman, saying, “She had probably a 4in gash on the inside of her thigh, right by the crease of her knee, and another 3in gash on the top of her calf on the same side, probably razor wire. You could see the muscle.”
Against Illegal Crossings
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection advises against illegal southern border crossings due to life-threatening dangers.
Meanwhile, at San Ysidro’s detention site, volunteer Nina Douglass provides essential aid, recalling a Colombian family’s request for pain relief after their son injured himself on the wall.
Advocating Change
Amidst political debates, Douglass advocates for expanded legal entry capacity, while Tenorio highlights the humanitarian crisis evident in the surge of border injuries.
Trump, Biden, and the Border
The US-Mexico border issue remains a pressing concern and is poised to be a central topic in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, with Donald Trump leading the GOP and President Biden grappling with the situation.
Biden’s Border Strategy
Faced with legislative gridlock in Congress on border security, the Biden administration is mulling over executive actions to curb illegal migration.
This strategic shift comes as officials anticipate a potential increase in border crossings, which recently saw a slight decrease.
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