On August 27, 2021, at approximately 6:30 PM, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Rio Grande City, TX, responded to a report of suspected undocumented migrants in a rural area approximately two miles west of Sullivan City, TX, and two miles north of the Rio Grande River. BPAs arrived in the area and observed numerous suspected undocumented migrants running north across Highway 83. A BPA began looking for undocumented migrants on the south side of Highway 83 and discovered an unresponsive man in medical distress. The BPA immediately requested emergency medical services (EMS). A short time later, BPAs apprehended two migrants on the south side of Highway 83, approximately 250 yards north from where the unresponsive man was found, and three more migrants on the north side of Highway 83.
While rendering aid to the man, BPAs noticed his health began to deteriorate. A BPA Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Starr County Memorial EMS arrived at their location, and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man. Shortly thereafter, Starr County Memorial EMS transported the man to the emergency room of the Starr County Memorial Hospital.
On August 28, 2021, at approximately 4:05 AM, the man succumbed to his ailments and was pronounced deceased by medical personnel while under hospital watch by Customs and Border Protection. The man has not been identified and his citizenship is undetermined.
This incident is being reviewed by the Starr County Sheriff’s Office, the Starr County Justice of the Peace’s Office, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility. The DHS Office of Inspector General was notified of the incident.