What to do if someone you know is missing.
Three Possible Scenarios
1) Search & Rescue (person has been missing for 3 days or less);
2) Someone may be in detention (person has been missing for less than a month);
3) Someone may have died while crossing. (You haven’t been able to locate the person for more than 30 days).
1. Search & rescue Mission
If you’re still in phone contact with the person, you should:
One: Tell them that the best chances of pinpointing their location and to increase their chances of rescue is for them to call 911. You should also advise the lost person that calling 911 will alert law enforcement agencies, including the Border Patrol, as well as the emergency-response system. The call to 911 is free and will go through even on a Mexican phone. They should repeat the call until they are able to connect to someone and until they are told that a rescue is being sent.
Two: Obtain as much information as you can from the person about their current location and everything that they can remember about getting there. Advise them to carefully conserve the battery life in their phone and to only move from their location if they know that it will better their situation; for example, walking to a traveled road or water source that they can see from their current location.
2. Locating Someone Who May Be in Detention
3. Instructions for Locating Someone Who May Have Passed Away While Crossing
It is very sad to say, but it is the experience of Derechos Humanos and No More Deaths workers who are familiar with the search process that if your loved one has been missing for more than one month, it is likely time to begin the process of searching for them through the forensics system. We are so sorry that your loved one is missing and you fear that they may have passed away. Here is information for two important organizations who help families search through the forensics system.
For Arizona, contact the Colibri Center for Human Rights
While focused in Arizona, the Colibri Center helps families search available forensic systems within the United States and across the border. Click on the above link or call 520-724-8644 and leave a message. They will get back to you to begin the process. Please be aware that Colibri may have a heavy caseload and that it may take up to 4 weeks for them to call you back, but they are very dedicated to their mission and will call you.
For South Texas, contact the South Texas Human Rights Center
To contact the offices of medical examiners directly:
For California: San Diego County Medical Examiner (858) 694-2895
For Arizona: Pima County Medical Examiner (520) 724-8600
For El Paso: El Paso County Medical Examiner (915) 532-1447
For Laredo, Texas, Brooks County, and Falfurrias, Texas: Webb County Medical Examiner at (956) 722-7054
For the most southerly point of Texas, the following two numbers are for possible river drowning deaths:
For McAllen, Texas: Medical Examiner: (956) 292-7014
For Brownsville, Texas: Medical Examiner (956) 389-1920
If your loved one, sadly, does not appear in the system after a few weeks of searching, Derechos Humanos recommends beginning the process of DNA sampling. Colibri and the South Texas Human Rights Center may be able to help you in this process. You may also contact the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team (EAAF). The EAAF may be especially helpful if close family members are living outside of the U.S. The EAAF takes DNA samples from people all over the world and is not connected to any government body. For the New York office call 718-237-2028.
References
Coalición de Derechos Humanos. (2019). How to Find a Missing Migrant. Retrieved from https://derechoshumanosaz.net/how-to-find-a-missing-migrant/
No More Deaths. (n.d.) Search-and-rescue missions on the U.S. border. Retrieved from http://forms.nomoredeaths.org/searching-for-someone-missing-at-the-border/search-and-rescue-emergencies-steps-to-take/
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