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This year saw the lowest number of deaths of illegal immigrants at the border between Texas and Mexico, as compared to the last four years, according to representatives of the Mexican government in Paso.

Rescue services recovered in the past 12 months a total of four bodies of people attempting to cross the border compared with those from the years 2004 to 2007.


According to the supervisor of the Border Patrol in El Paso sector, Ramiro Cordero, the decline in deaths this year is explained by the decrease of 60 per cent in the number of arrests of illegal immigrants in southwest Texas and New Mexico.

Representatives of the Mexican consulate in El Paso indicates that the decrease in the number of deaths may be due to the implementation of areas of 'zero tolerance' combined with the economic recession in the United States.


This is in preventive action and join rescue authorities on both sides of the border, according to the same sources.

Among the deaths is a registered on April 9, when an immigrant was killed by drowning in the American Canal that runs parallel to the dividing line between the two countries.


The victim was a man from Ecatepec in the state of Mexico.

On September 15 a man drowned in the canal while trying to cross into U.S. territory without legal documents.


The last body was discovered by employees of the company Kiewit, who work in building the border fence, between the Rio Grande and the irrigation canal.

In Ciudad Juarez, there were two other deaths were of people who cross the border without legal documents, according to reports from headquarters consular.


In contrast, during 2007 there were 29 deaths of illegal immigrants, four of whom were never identified.

In 2006 there were 28 dead, while in 2005 there were 33 to 18 years earlier.


The consul general of Mexico in El Paso, Roberto Rodriguez Hernandez, attributed the decline "historic" undocumented deaths this year in part to the three operational 'zero tolerance' of the Border Patrol, which had a deterrent effect among those who aspire to cross the border illegally.

The actions of 'zero tolerance' are used on some 21 miles (33 kilometers) from the border between the Paso del Norte international bridge to the international crossing Columbus, New Mexico and Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua.


Immigrants arrested in the area of 'zero tolerance' are judged according to whether they are repeat offenders or have criminal records.

Cordero told Efe that this year has placed special emphasis on aid and sometimes dangerous situations to rescue immigrants who sought to enter and detain undocumented.


He added that the Border Patrol seeks to reduce further the number of deaths in the area and El Paso, so the players are constantly training in water rescue techniques and first aid.

The officers also receive first aid kit, and there are rescue operations in which the Border Patrol uses helicopters flying over the desert when it detects that an immigrant is gone.

According to the Border Patrol in fiscal year 2008, from 1 October 2007 to September 30, 2008, there were 30,312 arrests of individuals attempting to enter the country without documents, which means a decrease of 60 percent over the previous fiscal year and the lowest number in a decade.