Charting Future Directions

Abstract

As work continues to identify and repatriate migrants, observations of the complexities of operating within the current system are just beginning to unravel the dynamic pathways articulating forensic science, global histories, and processes of culture. Forensic scientists must be mindful of the ways in which historically-driven political and economic contexts simultaneously shape, constrain, and enable their work. Scholars and practitioners are just beginning to visualize the ways in which thinking sociopolitically can influence the work of forensic scientists in the borderlands. At this point, there are more questions than answers. This final chapter in the volume, Sociopolitics of Migrant Death and Repatriation: Perspectives from Forensic Science, provides suggested directions for reflection for those working on migrant death issues in the borderlands. What enables volunteer forensic scientists to engage with humanitarian work? How does the presence, advocacy actions, and the attention of the forensic investigations impact local communities? How can media outlets be utilized to bring awareness to this crisis while not exploiting or sensationalizing the deaths? Finally, how can forensic scientists use their positions of authority to facilitate building of collaborative knowledge that involves multiply positioned stakeholders? It is through the development of a contextually rich, multi-faceted understanding of contemporary forensic scientific practice in which lessons can be learned to effectively navigate the sociopolitics of migrant death.