On September 9, 2021, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Deming Station was notified of a 911 call from an individual stating he and another individual, who was in medical distress, were lost in the desert. Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) responded to the GPS coordinates obtained by the 911 telephone call and located the undocumented migrant who placed the call approximately eight and half miles northeast of the Port of Entry in Columbus, N.M. BPAs were then led to another undocumented migrant, a male citizen of Mexico, who was in severe medical distress. Agents immediately requested emergency medical services (EMS).
Native Air Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and a BPA Paramedic arrived at the location and provided medical care to the man. BPAs assisted EMS personnel with moving the man a short distance to where the Native Air EMS helicopter was waiting. Native Air EMS transported the man to the University Medical Center (UMC) Hospital in El Paso, Texas, where he was admitted.
On September 13, 2021, the man succumbed to his ailments and was pronounced deceased by medical personnel.
This incident is being reviewed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility. The DHS Office of Inspector General was also notified of the incident.