Discovery En Español Releases Documentary About Dangerous Route For Those Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border

On August 24th, 2010, 72 bodies were found on a ranch in Tamaulipas, Mexico. The dead were Latin American citizens attempting to cross the border into the United States. They were less than 100 miles from their final destination before they were brutally slaughtered by members of the Los Zetas cartel – allegedly after they refused to assist the gang in smuggling drugs across the border. Their story is the focus of Discovery En Español’s new documentary La Ruta de la Muerte or The Route of Death.

The documentary highlights the increased perils of crossing the border due to drug cartel violence by following a group of migrants in their journey. The documentary follows Marco, a Guatemalan man who was an “eye witness to one of these massive kidnappings” by drug cartels, and Ismael, a young man from Honduras “whose sister was forcefully taken right in front of him.”

In an article published earlier this week, The New York Times described the border as "far more threatening" than any time in recent history. "On one side, fences have grown and American agents have multiplied; on the other, criminals haunt the journey at every turn," they reported.

The documentary was produced under the direction of Michela Giorelli and Irune Ariztoy, with the assistance of Pacha Films. The special premieres on Sunday, October 16 at 9 PM E/P.