DNA archive for identifying missing migrants goes missing
Apr 2, 2026·Location: Tucson, AZ
Country of origin: Mexico

The Colibrí Center for Human Rights' DNA database, which helped identify remains of missing migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for a decade, has been inaccessible since fall 2024. The nonprofit's website has gone dark and communications ceased, leaving families like that of Irma Carrillo Nevares without hope of identifying their missing relatives. Arizona moved to dissolve the organization in December 2025 due to unfiled paperwork.
Sources
- A DNA archive critical to identifying missing migrants has itself gone missing - High Country News
hcn.org·Mar 31, 2026·archived copy
- This Arizona group's database helped identify migrant remains. Now, it's not accessible
KJZZ·Apr 2, 2026·archived copy
- Colibrí Center for Human Rights
en.wikipedia.org·Apr 6, 2015·archived copy
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