The ICRC advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the issue of missing and deceased migrants. Authorities are encouraged to better understand the nature of migrants’ deaths and disappearances in their jurisdictions (number of deaths, locations, causes, contributing factors, etc.), and to establish or scale up activities that prevent deaths (water stations, rescue beacons or operations, etc.). Authorities are also encouraged to develop mechanisms to centralize and manage information on deceased migrants within their jurisdictions and ensure effective and transparent communication mechanisms for families searching for their missing loved ones, including families located outside their jurisdictions. 

The ICRC engages with US authorities at local, state, and federal levels to provide feedback on current procedures or processes and offer its advice, guidance, and recommendations to improve the search for the missing and protection of the dead. The ICRC also encourages authorities to develop formalized information exchange mechanisms across borders to facilitate identification of missing migrants. Increasing the number of forensic identifications, as well as retaining traceability of the bodies of unidentified or unclaimed deceased persons, is a major challenge but critical for families searching for a missing loved one.  

When migrants die during transit to or within the US, authorities should properly manage the dead, including searching for, recovering, analysing and identifying the person, and notifying families in a timely, transparent and compassionate manner. Forensic sciences play an important role; the institutions involved in the handling of unidentified deceased persons should be strengthened and provided with the necessary means to conduct their work. 

Source : Icrc