SAN DIEGO — The number of migrants needing treatment for severe injuries after falling from the U.S.-Mexico border wall has significantly increased over the past five years, said Dr. Alexander Tenorio, a neurological surgery resident at UC San Diego Health.
"We've definitely seen an increase since the border wall was raised to 30 feet at the end of 2019," he said.
On Saturday, at least 10 migrants were injured and taken to area trauma centers after falling from the border wall near the Tijuana River Valley. Officials described it as a mass casualty event.
Last year, UC San Diego Health's trauma center saw 10 times as many migrants with severe injuries after falling from the border wall as compared to 2019, when the border wall was shorter, Tenorio said.
UCSD Health's facility is one of two main trauma centers that treats migrants for severe trauma after border wall falls, Tenorio said, suggesting the number of migrants who needed treatment is even higher than the more than 400 recorded at his hospital in 2023.
Migrants' injuries more severe
Tenorio said he has seen more migrants needing treatment for brain and spinal cord injuries, which are some of the most severe. He now sees migrants come in with injuries all over their bodies.
"Not only are the numbers going up, but the severity of these injuries — it's much much worse," Tenorio said.
From 2016 through 2020, Tenorio said the trauma center saw 12 spinal fractures from migrants crossing the border. After the border wall was raised, that number jumped to more than 100 over a two-year period.
More alarming, he said, is the increase in migrants coming in with injuries to the brain and the brain's blood vessels, which are considered the most severe of all trauma injuries. This can leave patients unable to speak, or walk, or care for their families.
"We didn't see any of those before the border wall was raised to 30 feet," Tenorio said.
Resources shift as more migrants need treatment
UCSD Health opened another unit to take care of people with injuries after falling from the border wall, Tenorio said. There's also been a significant increase in the charges per patients and hospital costs, he said.
Many of these patients require multiple surgeries from multiple specialties.
"No matter where you were born, or where you're from," he said, "Every patient deserves the highest level of care."
Tenorio emphasized that the full scope of border-crossing injuries is much broader than what he sees, as many people are injured in less intense ways that don't rise to the level of trauma care.
"I unfortunately don't see how it's going to slow down," Tenorio said.
Editor's Note: The video originally attached to this story stated incorrect data regarding the border injuries. CBS 8 regrets the error.
WATCH RELATED: At least 10 migrants hospitalized after falling from border wall near Tijuana River Valley (March 3, 2024)
