On November 6, 2022, at approximately 11:20 a.m., a Border Patrol remote camera operator spotted a group of five individuals climbing up the International Border Barrier, approximately 4.2 miles southeast of the Veterans International Bridge, near Brownsville, Texas. The camera operator broadcasted the information via radio to Border Patrol agents assigned to the Fort Brown Border Patrol Station. Agents responded to an area known as “Shrivers”, located approximately 75 yards north of the border barrier, where they encountered and apprehended two individuals.
One of the individuals, a citizen of Mexico, informed agents he was tired and needed to rest. Border Patrol agents escorted the man to a nearby U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. Upon arriving at the vehicle, the man was placed in the back seat, where he informed agents that he was “really tired”, and he had not taken his prescribed medication for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The man suddenly fell unconscious. An agent immediately checked for a pulse and breathing, however, neither were present.
Border Patrol agents requested Emergency Medical Services and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man at approximately 11:47 a.m. While CPR was being administered, agents connected an automated external defibrillator to him which did not advise for a shock to be delivered. The Brownsville Fire Department EMS arrived on scene and subsequently took over primary medical care at approximately 12:10 p.m. Despite the lifesaving efforts of the agents and Brownsville Fire Department EMS, the Cameron County Justice of the Peace declared the man deceased at the scene.
This incident is under review by Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The DHS Office of Inspector General was also notified.