In 1994, the US Border Patrol implemented the immigration enforcement policy known as Prevention Through Deterrence. The strategy sought to discourage undocumented migrants from attempting to cross the Mexico / US border by controlling the Southwest border and points of entry and pushing traffic into the more hostile terrain of places such as the Sonoran desert of Arizona.

In it’s failure to address the complex push and pull factors which drive this movement of people, instead of halting the migration flow, Prevention Through Deterrence has instead marginalised migrants to hazardous routes, proliferating border deaths, disappearances, and informal economies of violence. Thousands of individuals continue to die attempting this journey countless more ‘disappear’. For the majority, the link back to the families and communities they have left disappear with them, and what’s behind is a landscape littered with objects, often both familiar and incongruous, traces of their passing.

Thousands of individuals continue to die attempting this journey countless more ‘disappear’. For the majority, the link back to the families and communities they have left disappear with them, and what’s behind is a landscape littered with objects, often both familiar and incongruous, traces of their passing.‘Traces’ is part of a body of work Transitory – a collaboration with ‘Estancia del Migrante González y Martínez’ and the migrant communities it supports through basic needs provision.

‘Traces’ is part of a body of work Transitory – a collaboration with ‘Estancia del Migrante González y Martínez’ and the migrant communities it supports through basic needs provision. Over a 5-month residency, Kate worked the local organisation based in Queretaro, Mexico and built relationships with the individuals from Central America who accessed its support, to explore representations, personal journeys and alternative narratives.