The desert on the US-Mexico border in Arizona frequently experiences high temperatures, making it difficult for illegal immigrants to die from the heat.

A group of migrants is making their way through the remote desert along the Arizona border, where extreme heat has long posed a dangerous challenge for those crossing illegally. With record-breaking temperatures in recent years, locating the bodies of those who have died during their journey has become increasingly difficult.

According to a Washington Post report, 21-year-old Mexican soldier José Antonio Salinas embarked on his journey in early June with four other migrants, led by a teenage smuggler. This was just three days before President Biden announced a shelter ban, and the temperatures at that time had reached around 99 degrees Fahrenheit, continuing to rise.

Salinas carried a 40-pound backpack, mostly filled with water. Just before entering the Sonoran Desert, he texted his sister, assuring her of his ability to make the crossing. Having spent time in remote mountainous areas during his military service, he felt confident he could survive for up to a week with limited food.

The smuggling group had planned for Salinas and his companions to traverse the desert in a single day, aiming for Phoenix, which was about a hundred miles away. However, after a grueling day and a half, Salinas collapsed beneath a cactus. His feet had swelled and blistered to the point where he could no longer walk. As the sun climbed higher, the others, burdened by their packs, continued on, leaving him behind.

This summer witnessed the highest temperatures on record, prompting humanitarian volunteers to form search and rescue teams. These teams made three attempts to find Salinas in June, August, and September, covering an area of roughly 40 miles from the desert to the mountains.

Heat has historically been a significant threat for migrants, and rising temperatures have further complicated the search for the deceased. Volunteers from Armadillos Search and Rescue faced extreme conditions themselves, experiencing symptoms like vomiting, difficulty breathing, intense headaches, and rapid heart rates.

This year, the Phoenix area recorded 61 days with temperatures surpassing 110 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a new record. It also recorded a streak of 113 consecutive days above 100 degrees, exceeding previous records by more than 30 days.

Since 2000, Pima County in Arizona has uncovered approximately 3,000 bodies in a narrow desert stretch, with Salinas and his group following a similar route. Data from the nonprofit organization Humane Borders and the Pima County Coroner’s Office indicates that extreme heat is the leading cause of death in these cases.

Lucero Salinas, José’s sister and a criminal defense attorney, felt a wave of panic after losing contact with him for several days. Desperate for updates, she reached out to the smuggling group, only to find out her brother had been left behind in the desert. She sought assistance from charities and the Mexican consulate in Tucson, but their efforts proved fruitless. In a moment of desperation, their father implored the smuggling group to help search for his son, but his plea was turned down.