Gabriella Soto, an associate teaching professor at Arizona State University, explores the aftermath of migrant deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border in her new book, “Border Afterlives.” The work examines how fragmented death-investigation systems can leave remains unidentified and families in search of closure without answers.
Exploring Forensic Care
Soto’s research spans over a decade, focusing on the recovery, identification, and return of migrant remains to their families. She emphasizes the challenges faced in rural areas that are often underfunded and lack trained personnel and resources for thorough investigations. “Border Afterlives” highlights the importance of recognizing the humanity behind unidentified remains, advocating for a systematic approach to memorialize and identify the deceased.
A Personal Journey
Growing up in Tucson, Soto encountered remnants of migrant journeys in the desert, including personal items and makeshift memorials. These experiences influenced her academic path, leading her to earn a master’s degree in conflict archaeology and a doctorate in anthropology. Her volunteer work with search teams has informed her understanding of the larger crisis of missing persons along the border.
Humanitarian Forensics Hub
Soto’s research efforts contributed to the establishment of ASU’s Humanitarian Forensics Hub, which aims to unite researchers, forensic experts, and community organizations to enhance efforts in locating missing individuals and identifying the deceased. The hub addresses pressing issues surrounding death investigations and societal responsibilities towards the dead and their families.
A Patchwork of Procedures
The processes that follow the discovery of human remains vary significantly across jurisdictions, with some areas equipped to conduct thorough investigations while others are not. Soto points out that the lack of a unified system in the U.S. leads to many remains going unidentified, affecting countless families. Volunteers play a crucial role in bridging these gaps, conducting searches and providing forensic analysis to assist in identification efforts.
Emphasizing the Need for Care
Beyond the technical aspects of forensic investigations, Soto’s work also delves into the philosophical importance of caring for the dead. She argues that the unresolved nature of these deaths creates a haunting obligation for society to remember and honor those who have passed. Through the concept of “haunting,” Soto articulates how the unresolved deaths of migrants continue to affect communities and families, urging readers to acknowledge these realities.
Source: Arizona State University
