SAN ANTONIO – With all the national media attention the border has received in recent months, KSAT 12 has traveled to South Texas to answer many of the lingering questions about immigrants entering the country.
On Wednesday, KSAT's Steve Spriester, Luis Cienfuegos, Mario Orellana and Adrian Garcia will walk the same path -- known as the "Death March" -- that undocumented immigrants take when they cross the Texas-Mexico border and into Brooks County.
FOLLOW: KSAT journeys to 'The Line,' capturing stories near the border
The Brooks County Sheriff's Office told KSAT 12 that from 2004 to present, authorities have found more than 720 skeletal remains of migrants across the area.
((AS SEEN ON THE NIGHTBEAT))
The BCSO said June, July and August are historically the deadliest months for the county.
The KSAT crew walked nearly six miles through three ranches.
A BCSO deputy said the migrants typically walk about 25 miles, but that some migrants walk more than 50 miles. The walk that the migrants endure is just a quarter of their journey.
This is how we’re dressing for our #KSATBorderJourney. We’re prepared & have plenty of water. Our walk is just 1/4 of what migrants go through who typically dress & pack up w/ whatever they own #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/y8TQE6J4eS
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
Less than 10 minutes into our walk, this is what we saw in the bushes. The area where we’re walking in is one of the most heavily used trails by migrants in Brooks County #KSATBorderJourney #KSATnews pic.twitter.com/nQlvUeu1y3
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
Used items such as a backpack & water bottles are just some of the things we’ve have seen on our #KSATBorderJourney pic.twitter.com/OytKGRvJni
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
Just came across this deflated balloon that the deputy who’s escorting us on our walk said can be used as markers by drum smugglers. Sometimes, the smugglers pin them to the trees. #KSATBorderJourney pic.twitter.com/hkLU6VQTjW
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
We hit a barrier but all five of us managed to climb over the fence & are continuing the #KSATBorderJourney. We’ve walked a little over a 2 miles so far... pic.twitter.com/3NMOY2bivD
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
When traveling at night, Brooks County deputy Don said migrants paint their jugs (much like this one) BLACK so it doesn’t reflect in the darkness #KSATBorderJourney pic.twitter.com/iSsdhWOrTk
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018
During our now 3 mile walk, we’ve seen barrels like this one with “AGUA” written on them. Inside, ranchers & groups put jugs filled with water. They have these poles right next to them signaling to migrants of nearby water #KSATBorderJourney pic.twitter.com/I5t7eAZMoF
— Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 18, 2018