On Friday, July 7, 2023, at approximately 7 p.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Santa Teresa New Mexico Border Patrol Station received notification of an individual in distress from the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office which included a general area to search. Agents responded in search of the individual at approximately 7:10 p.m. to an area approximately 3.43 miles northwest of the Santa Teresa, N.M. Port of Entry.
Agents encountered an unresponsive adult male Mexican citizen suffering from a seizure at approximately 7:20 p.m. Agents requested emergency medical services via radio at approximately 7:21 p.m. Agents checked the man’s vital signs and noted the man was breathing and had a pulse; they then poured water on him to cool him down and placed him in a recovery position.
Medical personnel from the Dona Ana County Fire Department arrived on scene at approximately 7:30 p.m. and began rendering aid. Additional medical personnel from American Medical Response arrived on scene at approximately 7:35 p.m. and assumed primary medical care. The man was transported at approximately 7:50 p.m. by AMR medical personnel to The Hospitals of Providence – Transmountain Campus for elevated treatment. Agents performing hospital watch duties reported the man had been admitted into the hospital at approximately 9:30 p.m. The man was transferred to the intensive care unit at the hospital at approximately 10:50 p.m. for additional treatment.
Paragon Security personnel from the El Paso Hard-Sided Facility took over hospital watch duties at approximately 12:25 a.m. on July 8 and informed Santa Teresa New Mexico Border Patrol Station the man had been declared deceased by hospital medical personnel on July 9 at 11:28 a.m.
Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility special agents spoke with the charge nurse at the hospital at approximately 12:30 p.m. The nurse confirmed the man was admitted and treated by the hospital, his condition worsened and his date and time of death was July 9 at 11:28 a.m.
This incident is under review by the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner and CBP’s OPR. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General was also notified.