Grand Canyon Times

An unidentified migrant was declared dead by doctors at Banner University Hospital in Phoenix on March 8, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) news release dated August 6. The death followed a March 6 incident that began with a remote camera operator identifying a possible human smuggling event.

The operator of the remote vehicle surveillance system (RVSS) observed a male and female near a vehicle suspected of human trafficking at a gas station in Lukeville and alerted CBP agents in the area. In a marked U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) vehicle, an agent saw the Altima traveling northbound on State Route 85. Without activating emergency equipment, the first agent followed at 65 miles per hour, requesting a database check for the vehicle. A second agent in another USBP vehicle also began following the Altima.

At 6:45 p.m., the Altima slowed north of Lukeville, near milepost 77. While the vehicle moved at approximately 45 miles per hour, both a male occupant and a female exited through the right rear door.

According to USCBP, "That was when the first CBP agent activated emergency equipment in an attempt to stop the Nissan Altima, which instead sped up and continued." The second CBP agent stopped to provide aid to the individuals who had exited the moving vehicle. They were noncitizens from Mexico. "She had minor injuries," stated USCBP, "but he was bleeding from his face, struggled to breathe, and appeared to be unconscious."

Border Patrol agents called for emergency medical services and placed the man on his side while continuing to monitor him before transferring care to Ajo Ambulance Services at 6:35 p.m. He was transported to Ajo Airport for further transport by Banner University Hospital, where he was moved to intensive care at 11:48 p.m. Doctors declared him deceased on March 8 at 10 a.m.

Following an autopsy on March 12, USCBP reported that "The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner performed an autopsy and said the preliminary cause of death was complications caused by blunt force trauma."

U.S. Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security responsible for safeguarding national borders and preventing illegal entry of people and contraband. Established in 1924, it operates in 328 ports of entry and protects 7,000 miles of land borders and 95,000 miles of maritime borders.