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32-year-old man dies while in custody of Border Patrol agents

The man began exhibiting signs of distress during processing, according to a statement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Credit: Scott Eisen/Getty Images
A patch on the uniform of a U.S. Border Patrol agent at a highway checkpoint on August 1, 2018 in West Enfield, Maine.

TEXAS, USA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is issuing a statement following the death of a 32-year-old man while in custody of Border Patrol agents. 

According to a release from the agency, the incident happened on February 4 at the Brackettville Station. 

The 32-year-old man and another U.S. citizen were allegedly involved in a vehicle pursuit that resulted in their arrests and the arrests of five undocumented immigrants earlier that day. 

Following his arrest, the 32-year-old man was processed at the Brackettville. During processing "the man began exhibiting signs of distress;" EMT-certified agents administered first aid and then contact EMS "as his health deteriorated," the release states. 

At around 6:40 p.m., EMS arrived and transported the man to a nearby hospital. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at 9:37 p.m.

The full statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection is available below: 

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Brackettville Station arrested a 32-year-old male United States citizen Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., CST, after he was identified as a suspect in an alien smuggling incident. At around 6 p.m., during processing at the Brackettville Station, the man began exhibiting signs of distress and EMT-certified agents immediately administered first aid and then contacted Emergency Medical Services as his health deteriorated. At around 6:40 p.m., EMS arrived and transported the subject by ambulance to a local hospitalHe was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at 9:37 p.m.

>U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

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