EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector (RGV) Missing Migrant Program (MMP) assisted in the identification of a deceased Guatemalan migrant found in the Delaware River in New Jersey.
On June 30, 2020, an unidentified Guatemalan male was found deceased in the Delaware River. The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) requested assistance from RGV MMP with their efforts in identifying the subject. NJSP provided fingerprint images of the individual to the Border Patrol to begin the process.
Border Patrol’s database contains the biometric information for over 200 million people that are otherwise unavailable to other law enforcement agencies. MMP agents and the RGV Joint Forensic Center (JFC), successfully identify the male as Israel Mario Luciano-Alvarado. The successful identification was confirmed through collaboration with the family, via the Guatemalan Consulate.
This is only one of the many successes of MMP’s “reunification” mission. Although the program strives to save lives through the deployment of rescue beacons and location placards throughout the RGV’s area of responsibility, the successful identification of decedents provides closure to mourning families. The collaboration of our local, state, and federal partners is a force multiplier in successfully completing the mission of the Border Patrol as well as of many of the agencies we work with.
RGV Sector Chief Brian Hastings stated, “The dedication of this team shows the underlying commitment to challenging situations and compassionate efforts made by both MMP and the investigators with the NJ State Police.”
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382.
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