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The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 341,084 people along the 1,954 mile border between the U.S. and Mexico last year. That's a 44 percent drop from 2016. But while the number of migrant crossings has dropped, the number of deaths increased in the past year, up to 412 from 398.

Michel Marizco is the senior editor of the Fronteras Desk for KJZZ in Tucson, Arizona. He discusses the reasons behind the shift, and why the border is more dangerous than ever. 

Francisco Cantu grew up near the border, studied it in college, and returned back after school as a border patrol agent to experience firsthand what life was like there. He wrote about his experience as a border patrol agent between 2008-2012 in his new book, “The Line Becomes a River,” and shares his experience today on The Takeaway. 

This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich