The harrowing discovery of a mass grave containing the remains of unidentified migrants in the south Texas desert has prompted Texas lawmakers to call for further investigation and to label the graves as a crime scene.

Texas Rangers and local officials are meeting Monday to discuss the situation and how best to handle it.

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Many argue that the most perilous portion of the journey for Central American migrants looking to enter the United States is not the portion leading up to their crossing of the US-Mexico border, but rather the stretch of land they face upon entering Texas.

The Caller-Times also reported that hundreds of undocumented immigrants have died of dehydration, exposure, and illness as they hike for more than 30 miles through harsh landscapes in temperatures of 100 degrees or more - all the while trying to avoid detection by Border Patrol checkpoints and agents.

For a fee, smugglers will drive migrants near border checkpoints and let them out, leaving them to trek through miles of desert wilderness.

Researchers can't specify how or why the corpses in the recently uncovered mass grave had gotten there, but after exhuming more than 52 bodies, officials believe it is safe to say some sort of crime was committed in the process.

"There is no doubt that a crime has taken place, and we need to protect the site to prevent any evidence from being damaged, tampered with or destroyed," Democratic Rep. Terry Canales of Edinburg said in a statement.

"Just as important, we need to send the message to the world that in our state, we do not stain the honor of loved ones who have passed away," he added.

More disturbing than the discovery of the bodies is perhaps the manner in which they were buried - anonymously. Experts hope to shed light on who these individuals are, and give some much-needed peace to the many families they left behind who may be waiting to hear news from their loved ones who chose to venture abroad.

TagsTexas mass grave, Illegal Migrants mass grave, US-Mexico Border