Matthew Klein Assistant Commissioner | U.S. Customs and Border Protection
On June 22, 2024, the El Paso Regional Communications Center received an emergency call about lost migrants near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The information was relayed to the Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector communications center.
At around 5:22 p.m., the El Paso Sector informed agents at the Santa Teresa Station of the situation and provided coordinates of the migrants' location. Agents reached the area by approximately 5:34 p.m., four miles northwest of the Santa Teresa port of entry and 2.5 miles north of the United States/Mexico border. Upon arrival, they encountered two individuals who directed them to a woman nearby.
The woman, later identified as a Mexican citizen, was reportedly breathing but unresponsive when agents found her. They requested emergency medical services (EMS) and attempted to cool her with water while waiting for assistance.
An American Medical Response ambulance arrived at approximately 5:54 p.m., taking over medical care. Sunland Park Fire Department joined EMS personnel at 6:18 p.m. At around 6:48 p.m., the woman was transported to Hospitals of Providence - Transmountain in El Paso, where she was pronounced dead by a doctor at approximately 8:51 p.m.
CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility requested an autopsy from the El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner. Conducted on June 24, 2024, it concluded that death resulted from accidental heat stroke.
The CBP Office of Professional Responsibility is reviewing this incident, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General has been notified.
"U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency," states CBP's description of its mission.
