Category Archives: Community

Interaction with the community of Falfurrias

Looking, Learning, and Leading

January 15, 2026Community, Human Rights, Migrant Death, ReflectionsAmandine Eriksen

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. 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

What Is Left Behind and What We Carry With Us

January 12, 2026Community, Environment, General, Human Rights, Migrant Death, ReflectionsAmanda Walker

Content Warning: This post contains references to sexual assault.

I woke up at 3:30 p.m. today. Yes, literally 3:30 p.m. I slept for 16.5 hours last night. After arriving back in Indianapolis, I felt exhausted and desperately in need of a shower. I decided that everything in my suitcase needed washing, even technically clean items, because everything felt like it was coated in dirt and smelled like sweat. That was after spending only five days intensely searching the remote Texas wildlands.

Every conversation I had opened my mind to perspectives I had never considered before. I intentionally asked Don and Ray difficult questions about what the journey for migrants entails, how coyotes operate, why people cross the border, and what they have witnessed through years of fieldwork. Each day, I learned about new hardships migrants face, including how they navigate the vastness of ranches and the challenges that follow.

Vastness of the ranches in the Texas border lands — Miles of remote Texas wildlands

The food, water, and belongings migrants carry are carefully calculated to minimize weight, conserve space, and remain essential. We saw countless empty tuna packets, cans, water jugs, discarded clothing, and other items. Every object brought serves a purpose, and once that purpose is fulfilled, it is often left behind. The less weight carried, the less energy expended. I also learned about the extreme measures people have taken in attempts to cross border checkpoints: hiding in small, concealed spaces inside vehicles, breathing through straws while submerged in barrels of sewage, and other dangerous conditions. Many of these attempts end when border patrol dogs detect them. Because of this, traveling through ranches is often viewed as the “safer” option, despite the prolonged exposure to heat, limited shelter, and scarce food and water.

American Eagle shirt turned inside out as to indicate it was taken off — American Eagle shirt turned inside out

One day, we came upon a very distinct tree. Certain items of clothing were on the ground and hung in its branches. I felt confused and unsettled. I didn’t even think about sexual violence. I was aware of the hardships of navigating the harsh environment and how physically and mentally exhausting it is to partake in the journey. I failed to consider how coyotes treated migrants during this journey. At this tree, a migrant’s personal items suddenly turn into a heinous message, a system to warn others what happens when someone disobeys the coyote.

Coyotes are supposed to be the ones to protect and help migrants cross the border. However, if a migrant pays them upfront, they become expendable and their payment can be used against them. If they wait to pay in full later, a migrant may be extorted for more money than initially agreed upon and forced into a human trafficking situation. Neither is a safe option. The thought about being tired, dehydrated, and afraid, only for one’s autonomy and dignity to be stolen, has stayed with me. Migrants are aware that this major risk exists and that it is common. Some even take preventative contraceptives before embarking on the journey- just in case. It is painful to confront how broken the system is when individuals feel compelled to place themselves in such vulnerable positions, enduring the abuse by those who hold power over them. Migrants often know the risks and still proceed to leave their current situation. It forces me to reflect on how desperate their circumstances must be to make risking their lives feel like the only option. Migrants do not want to cross the border illegally; many feel they have no other choice. From the stories shared by Don and Ray, when a migrant is found alive in the field, many are done and want to be turned in so they can go home.

Finding remains adds another complex layer to this work. I have learned how bone scatters may appear, how sand, brush, and cacti may conceal bones, and how animals transport them. Rats often carry long bones to build their nests. Larger predators tend to move bones into protective spaces for eating. Some predators will ingest bones altogether, making it unlikely to find certain bones. I was surprised by how easily bones can be hidden. Bones can roll from strong winds, be stepped on by animals, or even be covered up by natural debris like blowing sand. The movement, location, and condition of the bones tell a story. I also did not fully understand how bright-white a sun bleached bone looked until seeing them for myself, as they closely resembled the bone casts we use in class.

Non-human bones scattered in the distance

Throughout the trip, I felt an immense amount of privilege to be surrounded by my team every day. We all looked out for each other while also serving those who lost their lives on the journey. Every day, I had proper gear, plenty of water, protection, and nutritious food, and I was still struggling. By midday, I was usually already physically and mentally exhausted. However, I stayed grounded in my values. I showed up every day ready to work and empowered to make a difference.

Amanda with Texas brush around her — Amanda hiking through tall grasses

The conversations, emotions, and experiences from this trip will stay with me. I will carry them forward to educate others and shape my future work. I told someone today that there is absolutely no combination of words that could truly convey what I experienced. You will never fully understand until you’ve experienced it for yourself. I left nothing behind on this trip, as every part had an impact on me. I will move forward with intentionality and respect, not only those who cross the border, but those who search for them. I will cherish my memories with Don, Ray, Reed, Melissa, and the 2026 UIndy Beyond Borders Team. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and cannot put into words the emotions and growth I have experienced this trip. This experience has changed me; I have a responsibility now to continue to learn, educate, and stay up-to-date on what is happening at the Texas border. Ultimately, I strive to carry what I have learned forward in ways that continue to make an impact and ask hard questions to think deeply and reflect on my time in the Texas borderlands.

The Beyond Borders 2026 Team poses under the night sky for the last time — The Beyond Borders 2026 Team

– Amanda

P.S. I did get plenty of dog time through Socks and Oakley, who were both very cute and sweet girls.

She is just so cute!

Day 5: A Bittersweet Ending

January 8, 2026Community, Environment, Human Rights, Migrant DeathMakenna Mizell

It was strange to wake up this morning knowing that it would be the last day in Falfurrias with Don and Ray and everyone, and our last day out in the brush. There was a level of anticipation there, an excitement and motivation to get out there and make the final day count. At the same time, there was a level of sadness I felt about the trip coming to an end. About not having a tomorrow to wake up and do it all again.

Those thoughts stayed with me as we got ready for the morning, moving quietly and still half-asleep, before Don and Ray arrived at the hotel to pick us up and take us to breakfast.

We stopped at Rebecca’s, a local breakfast spot in town that serves homemade breakfast tacos and more. It was nice to just sit in this moment together, crowded around three tables that had been pushed into one, enjoying our eggs, waffles, and tacos while we talked in that easy, almost familiar way that we had developed over the course of the week.

Rebecca’s Restaurant in Falfurrias, Texas

The pause helped quiet some of the lingering thoughts that I had been carrying about the day ahead. For a little while, there was nothing to focus on or worry about except the food in front of us and the people beside me. It felt grounding to sit with the people I had spent the past week working alongside—to share a meal, to laugh, and to enjoy a brief moment of reprieve before heading back out and into the brush for our final day.

– Makenna

As we headed to the last ranch of the trip, we all felt a quiet sadness knowing it would be our final day of searching. We were visiting a new ranch where two skulls were previously found, so our focus would be searching for additional remains belonging to these individuals, similar to what we did on day 3. Around 3 years ago, Don had also received a 911 call about a missing person in the area, who has yet to be found. So we had two goals for today: first, to search for skeletal remains that may be connected to the two skulls previously found, and second, search for the missing person.

We began the day splitting into two groups and searching along each side of a dirt road. We weaved in and out of mottes, checking in tall grasses, and dirt piles along the way. We found a couple of artifacts and a few more animal bones before we got a transmission from Melissa over our walkie-talkies. She reported finding a fairly large layup with recent looking artifacts. After finishing our current search, we headed over to that area, with Melissa and Danny leading the way.

Nonhuman bone in a motte — Nonhuman bone in the middle of a motte

We observed the layup and were shocked by how recent it seemed. There were multiple black trash bags with holes stretched out for a head and arms to fit through. The quality and condition of the items suggested this was a high-traffic area. Next, Don had us spread out again in teams and search either side of the dirt road nearby to try to estimate what direction the migrants may have travelled to reach this area. Various artifacts were found on either side of the road, including backpacks, clothing, and discarded food and drink containers. We found a backpack, and as we began carefully unzipping and cutting open pockets, a small scorpion ran across the fabric. Moments like these are why we are so cautious when searching through clothing and other items, as there are dangers lurking and hiding almost everywhere. While we were able to take extra caution while out in the filed, migrants may not have that same luxury as they lie down to rest in a motte and open their bags at a later time. This furthered my realization of just how dangerous the entire journey is. Even during the times for rest and recovery, there are scorpions, snakes, spiders, thorns, cacti, and other predators nearby.

Trash bags within a large layup — Melissa and Don are searching through black trash bags in a layup

Backpack with its contents laid out — Backpack with its contents, including Pedialyte, isopropyl alcohol, and Emergen-C packets

Just as we were finishing our search in that area, Reed transmitted that he found an Android smartphone. We were all pretty surprised about this, as we had not expected at all to find a phone, especially a smartphone. Many of us initially wondered if it was a burner phone or a flip phone. However, learning that it was a newer smartphone was a surprise, a valuable item to either lose or leave behind. It was pretty beat up, and the screen was cracked, but Don said he was pretty sure he could still figure out who it belonged to through the SIM card or serial number.

Android phone on the ground — An Android phone with a cracked phone case and screen

It was another hot, long morning of surprises. We all remained flexible when moving around to different search areas and we solidified the fact that we were searching in a high-traffic area. Afterwards we had a lunch break to refuel for the second half of our day searching within the brush.

– Amanda

Because the layup that we found had newer artifacts and there had been recoveries in the area, our next goal was to search going north. If we continued to find artifacts from a similar time period, this could indicate how recent the pathway is and the general direction that it is moving. To do this, we conducted systematic line searches for the rest of the day.

A sweatshirt in a clearing of trees in the field.

Line searches are utilized as a way to search an open space to thoroughly clear an area. Spacing, direction, and pacing are incredibly important during these searches, especially when sweeping an area where the ground is obscured by dense grass and bushes. While conducting the line search, we were able to sweep through high, thick grass and some mottes that were along our route north, where we found few items, including monster energy cans, water jugs, and a sweatshirt. However, they were older than the artifacts found in the lay up.

Some of the Beyond Borders 2026 team conducting a line search.

This search reminded me of the disorienting nature of being out on these ranches. Even with landmarks and compasses, it is incredibly easy to lose track of yourself in the brush. As I led the line search, I was incredibly lucky to have the team with me to ensure that we conducted a thorough search and stayed on track. I cannot imagine having to traverse this terrain without this support. As this was our last day in the field, I was able to reflect back on our previous searches and why we are here. No matter how difficult we may find the terrain, we had the opportunity to assist Don and Ray in their efforts to recover individuals who deserve to be returned to their family and what we were traversing is only a fraction of what migrants encounter as they cross the border.

–Lilly

After a long, hot, emotional week of searching, we met up with the rest of the crew at the ranch to have one last meal together as a team. It was joyful but bittersweet, reminiscing about the trip and what we learned while getting to know each other better, all while enjoying Ray’s delicious burgers. As I sat there with everyone—some I met only a few months ago and some just this week—I truly felt at home. Besides working together under extremely strenuous conditions, we were bonded by a shared commitment to honesty. Seeing how vulnerable Don, Ray, Reed, and Melissa were being with us, sharing stories about their personal lives, military experience, and search/recovery work, we couldn’t help but reciprocate. In addition to our experiences in the brush, these stories are what I will carry with me when I leave Falfurrias.

I will never forget those I’ve met during this trip and what they taught me, nor will I forget those whose paths we crossed and the evidence left by their efforts to achieve a reality in which I live each and every day. I hope that by sharing these stories and experiences with those outside of the Texas Borderlands, I will be able generate conversations that force people to think critically about the individuals they seek to dehumanize and the motivations behind an individual’s decision to migrate.

– Peytin

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read our blog and those who supported and donated the Beyond Borders Team during our 2026 trip.

In the words of our new friend, “thank you much” to Deputy Sheriff Don White and Paramedic Ray Gregory for keeping us safe and guiding our journeys in this unfamiliar territory. Thank you to Dr. Reed Mckinney and Melissa Schmalhorst for joining us this year and sharing your expertise with us. We thoroughly enjoyed the laughs, lessons, and stories shared by each of you on this trip. To Socks, Oakley, and Danny, thank you for the smiles, pets, and distractions as we worked in this physically and emotionally challenging atmosphere.

Thank you to Dr. Latham and Dr. Eriksen for making this trip possible and for giving us this unique and memorable opportunity.

Thank you to the city of Falfurrias, Texas for embracing us and our work.

–Makenna, Lilly, Amanda, and Peytin

We will continue to post daily over the next week!