Tucson, Ariz.-On Tuesday August 8, 2023, at approximately 8:05 p.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Douglas Border Patrol Station were contacted by personnel from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office indicated – based on a 911 call they received – that a possible undocumented migrant was in distress in a remote location approximately 15 miles northeast of the Raul H. Castro Port of Entry in Douglas, Ariz. Two Border Patrol agents from the Douglas Station Horse Patrol Unit searched the remote area and located an adult male citizen of Mexico near the location provided by the Sheriff’s Office at approximately 8:57 p.m. One of the agents immediately announced on the radio that the man was unconscious, breathing erratically, appeared to be having seizures, and had a pulse. The agents placed the man on his left side and provided supportive care by keeping the man’s airway open. All aviation assets were grounded because of inclement weather, so agents requested that emergency medical services respond to mile marker 384 on State Highway 80 due to the rugged terrain. The agents also called for a spine board so they could transport the man by hand to a location accessible by vehicle. A Border Patrol agent emergency medical technician arrived at the location at approximately 9:53 p.m. to provide further care while moving the man to the agreed-upon location to meet EMS.
An agent announced on the radio at approximately 10:26 p.m. that cardiopulmonary resuscitation was being performed on the man during transport to meet EMS. An automated external defibrillator was also used, which advised to deliver a shock. Agents delivered a shock to the man and met with EMS at approximately 10:35 p.m. Two agents boarded the Douglas Fire Department ambulance at approximately 10:41 p.m., to continue assisting with CPR as the Fire Department ambulance transported the man to Copper Queen Hospital in Douglas, Ariz. CPR was administered during the approximately 30-minute drive to the hospital and a second AED shock was delivered by the paramedic. The agents established hospital watch over the man and he was pronounced deceased by the emergency room attending physician at approximately 11:49 p.m.
The details of an autopsy performed by the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday, August 10, are pending and will be released by that office.
This incident is under review by Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General was also notified.