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Medical examiner identifies skeletal remains found in Pima County desert

Aug 21, 2026 · Pima County, AZ

Medical examiner identifies skeletal remains found in Pima County desert

The Pima County medical examiner's office recovered the remains of 19 migrants, including children, along the Arizona-Mexico border last month, the highest monthly total since 2024. This brings the total remains found this year to 73, up from the same period last year. Advocates say restrictive asylum policies and extreme heat are driving record death tolls, with dehydration and exposure the most common causes of death.

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