Searching for someone missing at the border?

Many people are looking for family members and loved ones who have gone missing while crossing the border. In some cases, they know that the person was left behind in the desert, or they know the person was detained by Border Patrol. In other cases, they have received no information at all.

Please select the option that corresponds to your situation:

Is this a search-and-rescue situation—an emergency where the person is currently lost in the desert and their most recent communication was in the last three days?
The person crossed the Mexican border into Arizona or New Mexico
Please call us now at 520-585-5881 for help.

If we don’t answer, please email us and take these recommended steps for search-and-rescue emergencies.

The person crossed the Mexican border into California or Texas

In California, call Águilas del Desierto at 760-521-3768 for help.

In Texas, contact the South Texas Human Rights Center at 361-325-2555 for help.

In addition, take these recommended steps for search-and-rescue emergencies.

The person is lost on the Mexican side of the border

Follow the steps for someone lost or missing in Mexico.

Is this a missing-persons situation—you have a loved one you have not heard from in some time?
If you believe they may have been arrested while crossing the US–Mexico border

Follow the steps for searching for someone in detention.

If you have already searched in the detention system for this person without success, and you think there is a chance they may have died while crossing the border

Follow the steps for searching for someone among the perished.

If they went missing in Mexico

Follow the steps for someone lost or missing in Mexico.