Border Rescues and Mortality Data

Transnational criminal organizations continue to recklessly endanger the lives of individuals they smuggle for their own financial gain. Smuggling organizations often abandon aliens in remote and dangerous areas, where severe heat, exposure, and miles of unforgiving desert pose countless threats to aliens. Preventing the loss of life is core to our mission, and CBP personnel endeavor to rescue those in distress. Tragically, the number of deaths in these harsh environments is still too high.

Pursuant to Congressional reporting requirements, CBP tracks alien deaths under two separate sets of criteria. CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) conducts independent oversight of in-custody and certain other CBP-related deaths. CBP and the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) also track southwest border (SWB) deaths, in conjunction with their Missing Alien Program (MMP). CBP initiated the MMP in 2017 to prevent the deaths of aliens during their journey with signage, rescue beacons, and other tools to enable individuals in distress to contact agency personnel.

While CBP works hard to track this information as fully and accurately as possible, these data are not all encompassing. These numbers may differ from other organizations that track similar data.

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FY 2023 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In FY 2023, CBP components conducted a combined 3,201,144 enforcement actions across the United States. From these enforcement actions, CBP OPR reviewed 180 CBP-related deaths. The deaths were categorized into three categories: In-Custody (Reportable), Not in-Custody (Reportable), and Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable).

In-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies in the process of being physically detained by CBP
Subject dies after being detained or arrested or while being escorted to a CBP vehicle
Subject dies due to vehicle collision, is struck by a vehicle, or dies by any other means while being actively pursued by CBP
Subject dies due to actions of CBP while attempting to detain or arrest subject (e.g., struck by CBP vehicle)
Subject dies while being transported by, or in the custody of, a CBP contractor
Subject dies in a CBP holding facility or in route to a CBP holding facility
Subject dies as a result of any use of force by CBP personnel
Subject dies while undergoing secondary inspection or detained by CBP personnel for any other reason
Subject dies after being admitted to a medical facility while still in CBP’s legal custody

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies while attempting to elude CBP but not being actively pursued (including falls from border barriers)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary or outbound inspection at a port of entry (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary inspection at a USBP checkpoint (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject that is not detained or arrested dies while being transported in a CBP-owned vehicle or other conveyance with the sole purpose of obtaining immediate medical care
Subject dies while processing of import/export paperwork or while paying import/export fees

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

Subject discovered in medical distress and dies in the field or in route to hospital (not in a CBP vehicle)
Subject discovered in medical distress and dies during initial lifesaving efforts at hospital
Remains discovered by CBP personnel
Discovery of deceased individuals by other agencies
Deaths resulting from an enforcement action in which CBP personnel did not participate
Subject found deceased by CBP personnel in connection with a search and rescue operation

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

Of note, the not in-custody and not-reportable deaths included in the OPR review, shown below, were only those involving decedents who are found in medical distress and who died during initial lifesaving efforts.

FY 2023 CBP-Related Deaths by Custodial Classification: 55 in-custody, 72 not in custody, 53 not reportable

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

CBP-Related Deaths by Incident Types: Graph showing range between FY21-23

For additional information and more detailed data regarding the OPR data, please see the FY2023 CBP-Related Deaths Report. For further additional information, please read the Notification and Review Procedures for Certain Deaths and Deaths in-Custody.

FY 2022 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In FY 2022, CBP components conducted a combined 2,766,582 enforcement actions across the United States. From these enforcement actions, CBP OPR reviewed 171 CBP-related deaths. The deaths were categorized into three categories: In-Custody (Reportable), Not in-Custody (Reportable), and Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable).

In-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies in the process of being physically detained by CBP
Subject dies after being detained or arrested or while being escorted to a CBP vehicle
Subject dies due to vehicle collision, is struck by a vehicle, or dies by any other means while being actively pursued by CBP
Subject dies due to actions of CBP while attempting to detain or arrest subject (e.g., struck by CBP vehicle)
Subject dies while being transported by, or in the custody of, a CBP contractor
Subject dies in a CBP holding facility or in route to a CBP holding facility
Subject dies as a result of any use of force by CBP personnel
Subject dies while undergoing secondary inspection or detained by CBP personnel for any other reason
Subject dies after being admitted to a medical facility while still in CBP’s legal custody

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies while attempting to elude CBP but not being actively pursued (including falls from border barriers)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary or outbound inspection at a port of entry (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary inspection at a USBP checkpoint (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject that is not detained or arrested dies while being transported in a CBP-owned vehicle or other conveyance with the sole purpose of obtaining immediate medical care
Subject dies while processing of import/export paperwork or while paying import/export fees

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

Subject discovered in medical distress and dies in the field or in route to hospital (not in a CBP vehicle)
Subject discovered in medical distress and dies during initial lifesaving efforts at hospital
Remains discovered by CBP personnel
Discovery of deceased individuals by other agencies
Deaths resulting from an enforcement action in which CBP personnel did not participate
Subject found deceased by CBP personnel in connection with a search and rescue operation

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

FY 22 CBP-Related Deaths by Custodial Classification. Total Incidents by classification pie chart of in custody deaths, not in custody, and not in custody/not reportable

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

For additional information and more detailed data regarding the OPR data, please see the FY2022 CBP-Related Deaths Report. For further additional information, please read the Notification and Review Procedures for Certain Deaths and Deaths in-Custody.

FY 2021 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In FY 2021, CBP components conducted a combined 1,956,519 enforcement actions across the United States. From these enforcement actions, CBP OPR reviewed 151 CBP-related deaths. The deaths were categorized into three categories: In-Custody (Reportable), Not in-Custody (Reportable), and Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable).

In-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies in the process of being physically detained by CBP
Subject dies after being detained or arrested or while being escorted to a CBP vehicle
Subject dies due to vehicle collision, is struck by a vehicle, or dies by any other means while being actively pursued by CBP
Subject dies due to actions of CBP while attempting to detain or arrest subject (e.g., struck by CBP vehicle)
Subject dies while being transported by, or in the custody of, a CBP contractor
Subject dies in a CBP holding facility or in route to a CBP holding facility
Subject dies as a result of any use of force by CBP personnel
Subject dies while undergoing secondary inspection or detained by CBP personnel for any other reason
Subject dies after being admitted to a medical facility while still in CBP’s legal custody

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Subject dies while attempting to elude CBP but not being actively pursued (including falls from border barriers)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary or outbound inspection at a port of entry (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject dies before, during, or after primary inspection at a USBP checkpoint (unless referred to secondary or due to use of force)
Subject that is not detained or arrested dies while being transported in a CBP-owned vehicle or other conveyance with the sole purpose of obtaining immediate medical care
Subject dies while processing of import/export paperwork or while paying import/export fees

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

Subject discovered in medical distress and dies in the field or in route to hospital (not in a CBP vehicle)
Subject discovered in medical distress and dies during initial lifesaving efforts at hospital
Remains discovered by CBP personnel
Discovery of deceased individuals by other agencies
Deaths resulting from an enforcement action in which CBP personnel did not participate
Subject found deceased by CBP personnel in connection with a search and rescue operation

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

Total Incidents by classification pie chart of in custody deaths, not in custody, and not in custody/not reportable

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

For additional information and more detailed data regarding the OPR data, please see the FY2021 CBP-Related Deaths Report. For further additional information, please read the Notification and Review Procedures for Certain Deaths and Deaths in-Custody.

Southwest Border Missing Alien Program Data

The USBP Missing Alien Program (MMP) continues to expand partnerships with key stakeholders to improve tracking of reportable incidents. The MMP was implemented under the Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019 (P.L. 116–277). Through partnerships with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies, along with nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and foreign consular offices, USBP now has a standardized, active MMP in all nine USBP Southwest Border sectors.

The MMP’s statistics are pulled from designated target zones, which comprise 45 counties along the southwest border that are historical routes of travel for undocumented aliens. The MMP maintains the following criteria for decedents included in their report:

A suspected undocumented alien who died:

In furtherance of an illegal entry,
Within a designated target zone, or
Whether or not USBP was involved directly;

A suspected undocumented alien who died:

In furtherance of an illegal entry,
Outside of a designated target zone, or
If USBP was involved directly with the incident.

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Discoverer

Discoverer	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
USBP	201	226	200	448	635	460
Other*	80	74	54	120	260	244
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

*Other includes discovery by federal, state, tribal, and local agencies other than CBP.

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Gender

Gender	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Female	15	28	22	101	151	151
Male	164	178	148	364	563	397
Unknown	102	94	84	103	181	156
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Age Group

Age Group	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
0 - 17	4	8	7	8	17	13
18 - 25	44	43	46	110	129	104
26 - 35	39	53	42	114	176	151
36 - 45	32	40	27	75	105	85
46 - 55	9	12	9	37	51	52
56 and Older	2	3	6	13	16	8
Unknown	151	141	117	211	401	291
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Nationality

Nationality	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Angola	0	0	0	0	2	0
Bahamas	0	0	0	0	0	1
Bangladesh	2	1	0	0	0	1
Brazil	1	1	0	4	1	1
China	0	1	0	1	1	0
Colombia	1	0	0	2	6	4
Costa Rica	0	0	0	0	2	0
Cuba	0	0	0	4	9	6
Dominican Republic	0	3	0	0	3	3
Ecuador	2	6	4	12	6	3
El Salvador	8	7	2	19	24	20
Ghana	0	0	0	0	1	0
Guatemala	20	21	11	32	95	83
Haiti	0	0	0	0	1	0
Honduras	14	16	11	30	62	32
India	0	1	0	0	1	1
Jamaica	0	0	0	0	1	0
Mexico	117	124	136	334	415	321
Nicaragua	1	2	0	4	7	2
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	1
Peru	1	0	0	0	2	1
Russia	0	0	0	0	2	1
Senegal	0	0	0	0	1	0
Syria	0	0	0	0	1	0
Venezuela	0	0	1	1	7	9
Uruguay	0	0	0	0	1	0
Unknown	114	117	89	125	244	214
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

USBP Southwest Border Deaths Reported by Sector

Sector	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Rio Grande Valley Sector	96	69	58	130	212	103
Laredo Sector	69	78	57	75	79	29
Del Rio Sector	20	38	34	100	256	138
Big Bend Sector	10	3	15	39	31	6
El Paso Sector	6	20	10	39	71	149
Tucson Sector	58	61	43	78	142	183
Yuma Sector	1	7	7	30	52	31
El Centro Sector	17	17	17	45	14	9
San Diego Sector	4	7	13	32	38	39
Miami	0	0	0	0	0	16
Swanton	0	0	0	0	0	1
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

USBP Southwest Border Death by Type

Type of Death	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Environmental Exposure-Heat	95	110	104	219	365	244
Environmental Exposure-Cold	28	7	7	21	37	5
Train-Related	0	0	1	1	3	4
Motor-Vehicle-Related	5	11	9	41	45	49
Water-Related	54	66	41	78	172	77
Other¹	36	21	20	86	99	96
Undetermined²	37	60	42	73	43	95
Skeletal Remains³	26	25	30	49	131	134
Totals	281	300	254	568	895	704

¹ Type of death that doesn’t fall into one of the other stated categories to include, animal-related, homicide, suicide, etc.

² A deceased subject is found, and the cause of death cannot be determined by the medical examiner

³ Only bones are discovered from a deceased individual, to include not a full set of bones.

Southwest Border Alien Rescues Data

The USBP Southwest Border rescues data highlights the extraordinary number of resources USBP has dedicated to this humanitarian mission and to preventing the loss of life.

USBP Southwest Border: Rescue Incidents by Sector

Sector	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Rio Grande Valley Sector	345	184	138	508	719	185
Laredo Sector	278	310	317	568	493	177
Del Rio Sector	60	108	104	906	1,192	611
Big Bend Sector	27	13	66	190	113	36
El Paso Sector	10	20	4	526	375	373
Tucson Sector	574	570	423	164	2,300	2,283
Yuma Sector	10	23	35	137	211	146
El Centro Sector	9	30	69	158	279	81
San Diego Sector	13	16	40	266	1,430	1,681
Miami	0	0	0	0	0	241
Swanton	0	0	0	0	0	12
Totals	1,326	1,274	1,196	3,423	7,112	5,826

USBP Southwest Border: Number of People Rescued by Sector

Sector	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Rio Grande Valley Sector	1,623	794	304	949	1,175	383
Laredo Sector	1,509	2,453	3,549	7,109	6,491	846
Del Rio Sector	114	480	202	2,096	2,695	1,130
Big Bend Sector	71	45	150	748	438	72
El Paso Sector	17	40	12	688	493	597
Tucson Sector	926	930	774	233	3,507	28,052
Yuma Sector	20	82	114	424	346	396
El Centro Sector	14	78	171	328	405	107
San Diego Sector	25	19	60	282	6,525	5,741
Miami	0	0	0	0	0	4,987
Swanton	0	0	0	0	0	29
Totals	4,319	4,921	5,336	12,857	22,075	42,340

USBP Southwest Border: Rescues by Type

Rescue Type	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Environmental Exposure-Heat	480	380	458	1,664	3,130	1,818
Environmental Exposure-Cold	56	64	56	317	547	669
Water-Related	53	239	206	136	190	294
Other	547	444	319	1,076	2,997	2,876
Motor-Vehicle-Related	188	138	152	209	236	161
Train-Related	6	9	9	22	12	8
Totals	1,330	1,274	1,200	3,424	7,112	5,826

USBP Southwest Border: Number of People Rescued by Type

Rescue Type	FY 2018	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023
Environmental Exposure-Heat	1,209	924	1,159	3,760	5,634	8,557
Environmental Exposure-Cold	118	132	139	961	1,009	3,776
Water-Related	86	742	384	249	451	5,115
Other	945	768	631	1,713	9,445	23,982
Motor-Vehicle-Related	1,938	2,343	2,979	5,999	5,490	878
Train-Related	23	12	44	175	46	32
Totals	4,319	4,921	5,336	12,857	22,075	42,340

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Border Rescues and Mortality Data

FY 2023 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

FY 2022 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

FY 2021 CBP Office of Professional Responsibility Mortality Reporting Data

In-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Reportable)

Not in-Custody (Not-Reportable)

CBP-Related Deaths: Incidents by Classification

CBP-Related Deaths: Incident Types

Southwest Border Missing Alien Program Data

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Discoverer

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Gender

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Age Group

USBP Southwest Border Deaths by Nationality

USBP Southwest Border Deaths Reported by Sector

USBP Southwest Border Death by Type

Southwest Border Alien Rescues Data

USBP Southwest Border: Rescue Incidents by Sector

USBP Southwest Border: Number of People Rescued by Sector

USBP Southwest Border: Rescues by Type

USBP Southwest Border: Number of People Rescued by Type