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Description
Every year thousands of people go missing worldwide. In the United States alone, over 87,000 cases were left unsolved last year, while internationally thousands more remain missing. The National Institute of Justice calls it "The Nation's Silent Mass Disaster" and the problem resonates across borders. Among the missing are a unique group of people that are left unaccounted for; those who illegally cross the international border between the United States and Mexico. Without proper legal documentation, individuals who enter the United States become politically invisible. In death, these individuals can remain invisible, known only as unidentified persons or Does. Repatriation is the end goal for all displaced decedents. Returning people home after death provides closure for the living. Providing this service is a necessary yet often complicated process for individuals involved in repatriation efforts of foreign nationals. This study originally set out to provide a clear picture of the repatriation process followed in San Diego County. However, upon the realization that a defined protocol does not exist in the county, the focus naturally redirected to the dissection of the procedures followed by the individual agencies who are, in part, responsible the eventual identification and repatriation of deceased migrants. As a result, instead of presenting a comprehensive understanding of the protocol for repatriating deceased migrants, this study has unveiled the roles of each agency. The tools available to aid in identification, gaps in communication between agencies and individuals who report the discovery of human remains, and demographic and regional predictions as to when and where unidentified human remains may be those of a deceased migrant are discussed. This study offers some insight into how the San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, and other jurisdictions, handle deceased migrants, and offers suggestions as how to improve available resources, and implement new resources that may simplify and expedite the reporting process.
