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This is the world’s deadliest border

By Dara Lind and Estelle Caswell

Tens of thousands of migrants are trying to reach Europe each year in unseaworthy boats because of unscrupulous human smugglers — and thousands have drowned. At the same time, in many European countries, xenophobia is on the rise. The combination can be lethal.

(Data source: Missing Migrants Project)

The video above shows what's made the Mediterranean the deadliest border crossing on Earth: where migrants are coming from, why they're in so much danger throughout the journey — even before they reach the sea — and what the US can learn from Europe's response.

Correction: In an earlier version of the migrant fatalities chart, the running total bar was mistakenly cut short. It's been corrected.

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