According to a report issued by the General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of the Congress, the U.S.’s southwest border strategy has moved the mass of migrants attempting to remote and desert areas, resulting in an increased number of deaths in those areas. While the report does not say that more people overall are dying, it does say that "some evidence exists that deaths resulting from attempted crossings in remote areas are increasing."

The new Southwest border Strategy was created in 1994, and used dramatically increased numbers of agents, fences and electronic sensors to deter illegal crossings, especially around San Diego and El Paso. The aim of the program was to push migrants to the center of the border, which has occurred. This has also led to an increased number of deaths from heat exhaustion, exposure, and related problems.