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Check the Ear Tag

Human Rights, Migrant Death, Reflections

Our team reflection posts are written after our last day in the field and meant to be a way to assess what we experienced on our trip and how we have grown after our time at the border. Even after fourteen years of working in the south Texas borderlands I can say I am continually learning new lessons and information. Many of my learning experiences highlight naïve assumptions regarding how others view the world around them or how identification efforts make (or don’t make) progress across national borders. I’ve always been clear that our team goals are twofold: 1) to provide forensic archaeological and anthropological expertise where needed and 2) to provide our students with an immersive experience aimed at better understanding the complexities at the border and of practicing forensic science in sensitive contexts. There is one moment I experienced on this trip that addressed both goals.

Members of the Jan 2026 Beyond Borders Team
Members of the January 2026 Beyond Borders Humanitarian Forensic Science Team

We were leaving a ranch on one of our last days in the field in a caravan of the three four-wheel drive vehicles needed to transport the people, animals and equipment required for search and recovery work. The group came to an abrupt stop as we saw a large, recently deceased cow on the side of the caleche road. Based on the condition, the cow would have been there on our drive into the ranch that morning, but we missed it due to the high grass. This is our first lesson. When conducting a line search you should look behind you every few steps. When dealing with grass, shadows and debris you must consider viewing things from different angles and perspectives. The fact we missed a huge cow just feet from the road was a valuable learning lesson. It highlights the challenges of searching in this environment. It’s easy to assume searching flat ground is easy, but tall grass and blowing sand act to cover the scattered bones we are hoping to locate.

Line search in the field
Team members conducting a line search with Lilly pausing to look behind for items the grass may have concealed

The second lesson regarded the identity of the cow. One team member yelled “Check the ear tag!” referring to recording the information on the tag so the landowner could be alerted to the identity of the deceased cow. In that moment I thought this cow is being afforded more dignity in death than the individuals we are searching for. Yes, I understand the economics of cattle and that they cost money. But we are looking for people that are treated worse than cattle when they are left in the remote wildlands of Brooks County by their coyotes or groups. It’s the harsh reality of the work here when you are forced to see how people are treated and what they endure on their journey. No amount of reading can prepare you for it and it sticks with you. Often lingering in the background but ready to consume your thoughts if you let it.

Ray walking towards cows
Ray walking towards a group of cows

I’m so thankful that our colleagues in Texas continue this work year round and allow us to join them when we are able to do so. Looking at the ten of us working together on search and recovery operations this year, you see a group that has bonded over a common goal. Not only working well together but spending time over meals and in the evenings sharing stories, laughing together and being vulnerable in a way that is rare today.  We are all born in different places, have different histories, different viewpoints and beliefs. But we know there is more that unites us than divides us and that is another thing I love about these trips. We meet people we may have never met otherwise. We talk to people who may be outside our usual friend group. That is also a valuable experience that is often lost in the division we see in our country today.

Everyone gathering the last night of the trip
Members of Beyond Borders, Remote Wildlands Search and Recovery and South Texas Mounted Search and Rescue

Thank you to everyone that has followed us over the last few weeks.  Your support means a lot to us. The hope is that these posts convey a reality of the border that is not biased through a media lens. We pour ourselves into these posts as a way to share our experiences but also as a way to cope with what we see there. The groups you are reading about are all volunteers and responsible for their own expenses. If you are interested in supporting any of these teams I am including links below.  

Beyond Borders Humanitarian Forensic Science Team

Remote Wildlands Search and Recovery

South Texas Mounted Search and Rescue

~KEL

Beyond Borders team line up for search

Looking, Learning, and Leading

Community, Human Rights, Migrant Death, Reflections

Content Warning: This post contains reference to sexual violence.

I started reflecting on this post-trip blog a few days before our return. Initially, my goal was to focus solely on the efforts of Dr. Krista Latham, my amazing colleague and mentor who started the Beyond Borders forensic science humanitarian project 14 years ago. Although brief, each trip to Texas requires significant funding, energy, time, and dedication — before leaving, during the work itself, and long after returning home. This post will highlight the immense work that goes into planning annual field seasons and maintaining relationships with colleagues.

I returned to the Texas borderlands believing I understood what migrants go through because I had experienced the thorny, rugged, and sandy terrain the year before. I was wrong. The heat this year was 30-40 degrees hotter than last, reaching temperatures of over 90° F. In January. Each day, I wished for even the slightest breeze to help cool us down.

Rural Texas landscape
Landscape of rural Texas peppered with thick grasses, cacti, and thorny bushes, and mottes

Upon returning home, I honestly struggled more than I expected. Waking up with no one there to guide my day made me feel incomplete. When my partner asked about my trip, I said it went well and explained that we conducted various searches across different areas of rural Texas ranch land. Keeping it vague felt easier. How do you casually describe encountering evidence of sexual violence? As the day went on, I continued processing the week’s experiences. It’s difficult to see, with your own eyes, the evidence of what humans are capable of. The things that people leave behind tell a story, even when those people have long since passed through the area.

Facing this reality has been humbling and unsettling. It’s one thing to know these stories exist but it’s another thing to stand in the places where they have unfolded.

These eye-opening moments remind me why I wanted to become an Anthropologist. People fascinate me, and I feel compelled to help prepare the next generation to navigate and confront the challenges they will certainly face. As core faculty in the Human Biology Master’s Program at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy), Dr. Latham and I are committed to ensuring that students receive meaningful experiential learning opportunities, where they can apply their academic training in real-world contexts.

This year, I paid much closer attention to the many ways that Dr. Latham supports the team. While no amount of preparation can fully ready someone for this work, thoughtful pre-planning is essential. Before we leave, she holds multiple team meetings on campus in the preceding weeks to ensure students understand what to expect from the environment and can plan accordingly. This includes packing lists, detailed itineraries, discussions about allergies, and assigned readings to help students familiarize themselves with the project and the history of border crossing. She also takes care of all arrangements, including travel, lodging, and meals.

Dr. Latham walks up to the US-Mexico border wall the with the team
Dr. Latham walks up to the US-Mexico border wall the with the team

This year, I paid much closer attention to the many ways that Dr. Latham supports the team. While no amount of preparation can fully ready someone for this work, thoughtful pre-planning is essential. Before we leave, she holds multiple team meetings on campus in the preceding weeks to ensure students understand what to expect from the environment and can plan accordingly. This includes packing lists, detailed itineraries, discussions about allergies, and assigned readings to help students familiarize themselves with the project and the history of border crossing. She also takes care of all arrangements, including travel, lodging, and meals.

Dr. Eriksen and Dr. Latham standing in front of motte
Dr. Eriksen and Dr. Latham standing in front of a motte

Once we arrive, she drives early in the morning and late at night, allowing others to rest when we grow tired. This helps keep everyone on track and on time. In the field, Dr. Latham carries a backpack that includes not just the water and basic supplies we all bring, but also the specialized equipment required to recover human remains, quite literally bearing the weight of the work on her shoulders. She wakes up at a ridiculously early hour each morning to proofread and post the daily blogs highlighting student experiences. And each evening concludes with a group debrief, during which the team reflects on what we learned that day, what went well, and what we can improve the following day.

Dr. Latham is committed to ensuring that our students leave with something transformative, whether it be improved forensic skills, a deeper understanding of border dynamics and migrant experiences, or strengthened soft skills such as communication and teamwork. On one evening, we discuss why making mistakes and learning from them can be an important and defining moment in life. These conversations deepen our understanding of the work and of one another, making it easier to connect with the many amazing individuals we worked alongside this year, including Deputy Don White and Paramedic Ray Gregory, UIndy alum Dr. Reed McKinney, DDS, and Melissa (and her horse, Danny) of South Texas Mounted Search and Rescue.

Team with Melissa and Danny
2026 Beyond Borders team with Melissa and Danny
Don and Ray pose for a selfie together
Don and Ray

After returning home, we gradually slip back into our daily routines and journaling helps ease this transition. Post-trip reflections are a crucial component of the Beyond Borders experience, which can be deeply cathartic. Ultimately, this project is about more than just fieldwork; it is also about commitment, care, and continuity. Dr. Latham’s leadership exemplifies how persistent dedication can create a meaningful impact, not only for the missing and their families, but also for the students who will carry these lessons forward. I look forward to seeing how our UIndy students of the 2026 Beyond Borders team (Makenna, Lilly, Amanda, and Peytin) integrates this experience into their academic and professional journeys.

Students standing in front of the US-Mexico border wall
Left to right: Amanda, Lilly, Peytin, and Makenna stand in front of the US-Mexico border wall

–AE

Beyond Borders 2026 team
Final day of the Beyond Borders 2026 field season

The Weight We Carry: Hope, Humanity, and Toothpaste

Environment, Human Rights, Migrant Death, Reflections

Guest Post by Dr. Reed McKinney

When Dr. Latham had brought this trip up to me about a year ago, I was hesitant to say yes – but of course agreed to help in the best way that I could. Show up with a positive attitude, contribute to the team dynamic, and bring my expertise with forensic dental examinations to the table. I’m not sure what I expected from the trip. I knew that we would be busy, and I was excited to work with Krista and the team, network and get to know everyone, but what I left with was more than I could ever have planned for.

University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center Shirt
University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center Uniform Shirt
Dr. McKinney and Dr. Latham in the field
Dr. McKinney and Dr. Latham in the Field

We, as people, are trained (I think that’s the word for it?) to be “good” all the time. Show up, do good work, go home, repeat. One of the things I struggled with was allowing myself to take the mask off, of being expected to be “good” every day, when really the work we are doing is truly heavy. Yes, we were walking most days searching for remains and signs of migrant activity, but the reality of it is that we are looking for fellow humans who are looking to better themselves, their families, and their lives by coming to America – and unfortunately, not everyone makes it. I had kept a journal for each day and shared with my parents, family, and friends so they knew what I was up to, which helped me to “dump” some emotions down, but the weight of the week we had in Brooks County still is with me even a few days upon returning safely home to San Antonio.

View of Remote Ranchlands in Brooks County
An Example of the Landscape in Brooks County

One of the most “humanizing” moments I had was one of the very first days we were in the field. In a motte, some personal items were found in a backpack as a sign of migrant activity. Some pain medicine, some food, and some toothpaste. I know, classic dentist, focusing on the toothpaste we found. But – what a reminder of the safety, the personal hygiene, the normalcy we have that we take for granted. I had a moment of humility here. If I was packing a bag, of course I’d bring my toothpaste along. And that’s just it – I was able to put myself in this person’s shoes for a moment and really try to see the world from their eyes. I said a quick little prayer for whoever this was, hoping they are better off now than from where they set off, and asked God to guide me through this experience to do my part, and to remind myself I am a human, these people are humans, and we are all experiencing this world together.

Backpack left in the brush with personal items
Backpack With Personal Items and Toothpaste

As I reflect on the week, certain memories come to mind. Shared laughter with the team over dinner every night. Vulnerability with one another sharing about our personal lives and experiences. Fellowship with one another, sharing this amazing humanitarian experience together. Extra breadsticks at Pizza Hut. The burning sun, only reminding us how austere this environment can be. Constant reminders to have a “water break!!” to hydrate in the field. Lessons learned from experts in their fields. All pieces of our human experience.

Deputy White and Members of the Beyond Borders Team
Team Members Preparing to Search the Brush

I’ve argued with myself regarding returning to Brooks County to help with human search and recovery efforts. I know I can bring a level of experience to the table now, having worked for five days with such an amazing team. I’ve spent this weekend after the trip truly reflecting and digesting the experience I’ve had, the lessons I’ve learned, and the reminder that everyone deserves anything if not kindness. I know I’ll be back; I just have to remind myself of the gravity of the mission and be willing to cope with that again. It may seem trivial to anyone on the outside looking in, but there is nothing to prepare you for this type of work. Yes, the forensic side of the mission exists – and always will – but. The human piece of the whole trip, the quiet parts about what’s actually happening – migration, human trafficking, escape from home to something unknown on the horizon – are the heaviest, but are the best lessons to keep in mind when contextualizing how much strife people must endure to try to better themselves, their lives, and forging an easier path for their families.

Dr. McKinney and the Beyond Borders Team
The Jan 2026 Beyond Borders Humanitarian Forensic Science Team

I set a goal for myself this year to be more intentional. In my time, in my relationships, and in my work. I’ve made a point to focus on personal, professional, and spiritual growth; challenging myself to feel things completely as opposed to subdue them. I also made a goal to branch out more and strengthen my personal and professional relationships. How crazy that all of these goals were achieved within the first week of 2026. I’m using this experience to truly kick off my year, and I can’t wait to see how I can use this experience with the UIndy Beyond Borders team, the Brooks County Sheriff Department, and the amazing team that I had the honor and privilege to be a part of during this mission to grow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has prayed for us, donated to the cause, or just have thought of us over the last week.

Two quotes stick with me that I have found and included in my own personal log of the events from this trip.

“The greatness of humanity is not being human, but being humane.” – Ghandi

“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo – far more flexible than you’d ever believe at a first glance” – Jodi Picoult, My Siter’s Keeper

Both of these quotes serve as a reminder that we – as humans – are resilient, we are strong, but most importantly, we are in this together. Ecclesiastes 4:12 states that “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken”. This highlights the strength found in unity and partnership, two themes which were highlighted this last week. I challenge us all to be better humans, which is easier said than done, but the yoke is lighter when carried together.

-Reed

Powerlines
Powerlines Running Through the Ranchlands