Timeline of events in 2021 border crisis

compiled by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 5 July 2021

Introduction

Table 1: Incidents

Date (2021)statelocationincidentsource
Jan 16GALumpkinICE notified Mexico of detainee at Stewart Detention Center that is in serious condition with COVID-19CNN
Jan 24AZCochise Co1 immigrant died of exposureHumane Borders
Jan 27AZGila Bend1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Jan 29TXHidalgoBP fatally shot illegal immigrant threatening agent with rockMyRGV
Jan 29CASan YsidroMexican national drowned in drainage canalSan Diego Union Tribune
Jan 30GAColumbus57-year-old male detainee of Stewart Detention Center died of COVID-19 after transfer to Piedmont-Columbus Regional HospitalU.S. ICE
Jan 31MEXCamargo19 migrants killed by police in Jan 2021Washington Times
Feb 05MIBattle CreekBahamanian national in ICE custody died of natural causes at Calhoun County JailU.S. ICE
Feb 07AZSanta Cruz Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Feb 09AZPisinemo1 immigrant died of exposureHumane Borders
Feb 16TXEagle PassVenezuelan national drowned trying to cross Rio GrandeABC News
Feb 17TXEagle Pass8 year old Honduran boy drowned trying to cross Rio GrandeABC News
Feb 28TX15 illegal immigrant deaths in Feb 2021Washington Times
Mar 02CAHoltville13 immigrants killed of 25 in SUV which crashed into truck while fleeing BP, SUV had crossed border through hole in border fenceUSA Today
Mar 02CAsecond vehicle fleeing BP caught fire, 19 apprehended by BPUSA Today
Mar 05TXVal Verde CoCuban national drowned in Rio GrandeWashington Times
Mar 08AZNogales1 immigrant died of exposureHumane Borders
Mar 08CAimmigrant with COVID-19 complications died 3 days after release from Adelanto ICE processing centerLos Angeles Times
Mar 13AZOrgan Pipe Cactus NM2 immigrants killedHumane Borders
Mar 13AZCabeza Prieta NWR2 immigrants killedHumane Borders
Mar 13CAImperial BeachHonduran national drowned trying to swin around border wallSan Diego Union Tribune
Mar 14AZPima Co3 immigrants killedHumane Borders
Mar 14KSKansas City1 killed by illegal immigrant who was driving drunkKSHB
Mar 15TXDel Rio8 Mexican illegal immigrants killed in crash while fleeing Texas DPS, 1 passenger injuredKSAT
Mar 15TXHarlingenColombian national died of natural causes in ICE custody at Valley Baptist Medical Center after transfer from Port Isabel Detention Center, Los FresnosU.S. ICE
Mar 16AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 16TXLaredo2 drowned trying to cross Rio GrandeNew York Post
Mar 16TXRomamother and infant rescued after being thrown into Rio Grande by human smugglersTimes Record news
Mar 19AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 20AZCabeza Prieta NWR1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 20TXEagle Pass9 year old girl drowned trying to cross Rio GrandeNBC news
Mar 23CAICE detainee died of COVID-19Mercury News
Mar 23CAImperial BeachCuban national drowned trying to swin around border wallSan Diego Union Tribune
Mar 25additional migrant deathsSan Diego Union Tribune
Mar 25AZTucsonGuatemalan national died of medical distress in Border Patrol custodyAZ Central
Mar 26AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 27AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 27MEXTulumEl Salvadoran immigrant killed by policeFronteras Desk
Mar 28AZOrgan Pipe Cactus NM1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 29CASan Diego32 of 247 teenage girl migrants test positive for COVID-19 when being transferred to San Diego Convention CenterABC News
Mar 29NCPine Level36-year-old father killed in car crash by illegal immigrant driving drunkImmigration Reform
Mar 30AZVamori1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 30AZVamori1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Mar 30TXVal Verde CoMexican national drowned attempting to cross Rio Grande830 Times
Apr 01NMSanta Teresatwo unaccompanied minors abandoned by being dropped over border wallKLFY
Apr 05AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 06AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 06AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 13AZEloysecurity fired pepper spray to control protest/riot at La Palma Correctional CenterCBS News
Apr 15AZRio Rico1 immigrant died of exposureHumane Borders
Apr 15AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 15AZCabeza Prieta NWR1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 15CASalton CityBP agent killed assisting in highway crashSan Diego Union Tribune
Apr 15TXHebbronvilleillegal immigrant found in medical distress in vehicle during Border Patrol stopSouthern Border
Apr 15TXVal Verde Co1 other drowning in Rio Grande in 2021Washington Times
Apr 16TXHoustonDHHS staffer died at Children’s Detention Center, migrant facility for girls, unreported causeABC 13
Apr 16AZNogales1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 17TXHoustonChildren’s Detention Center, migrant facility for girls, closed without prior notice, 500 girls bused to other locationsABC 13
Apr 18TXHidalgofemale immigrant in family unit died of medical distressWashington Times
Apr 18TXHighway 281immigrant struck and killed running across Highway 281 to flee BP; driver escorting him was a juvenile US citizen and was chargedWashington Times
Apr 18immigrant died of medical distress in vehicle stopped by BP; others in the vehicle fledWashington Times
Apr 22AZPima Co1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 25AZCabeza Prieta NWR1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 26AZKitt Peak1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
Apr 28AZAmado1 immigrant died of exposureHumane Borders
Apr 29TXKingsvilleHonduran national struck and killed by BP vehicle, second migrant injuredU.S. CBP
Apr 30AZCabeza Prieta NWR1 immigrant killedHumane Borders
May 02CAPoint Loma3 drowned, 27 hospitalized after boat transporting 31 Mexican and 1 Guatemalan illegal immigrants ran agroundABC News
May 07TXHidalgoBP apprehended group of 132 illegal immigrantsU.S. CBP
May 08TXEl PasoBP agent died of COVID-19 contracted in line of dutyEl Paso Times
May 08TXGranjenoBP apprehended group of 107 illegal immigrantsU.S. CBP
May 09TXNormandy5 unaccompanied minors abandoned, Honduran nationals ages 2,3, 7 and Guatemalan nationals ages 5 and 11 monthsU.S. CBP
May 12TXHidalgoBP apprehended group of 119 illegal immigrantsU.S. CBP
May 14CACampoBP agents fatally shot Mexican national driver of vehicle transporting two Mexican nationalsDallas Daily
May 18TXHidalgoBP apprehended 278 illegal immigrants in two groupsU.S. CBP
May 24TXMcAllenBP apprehended 16 nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador in safe houseU.S. CBP
May 24TXEdinburgBP apprehended 82 nationals of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador in safe houseU.S. CBP
May 29TXI-35 checkpointBP apprehended over 100 illegal immigrants being smuggled in tractor trailerU.S. CBP
Jun 01TXBrooks Co40 bodies recovered in 2021MyRGV
Jun 01TXSierra BlancaU.S. citizen committed suicide in vehicle when approached by Border PatrolSouthern Border
Jun 01TXEl Paso5 year old unaccompanied minor abandoned at border wallYahoo News
Jun 09NMSunland Parkbody of Mexican national foundFox News
Jun 10NMSunland Parkbody of migrant foundKVIA
Jun 10NMColumbusEcuadoran national suffered head injury jumping from vehicle to flee Border Patrol, died 3 days laterLos Cruces Sun
Jun 10TX128 migrant deaths in 2021 in 12 south Texas countiesNew York Post
Jun 11TXEl PasoMexican national died in fall from border fenceBorder Report
Jun 11NMSunland Parkillegal immigrant died from heatFox News
Jun 17AZLukevillevehicle transporting illegal immigrants crashed while fleeing Border Patrol, 1 died of injuries 2 days laterU.S. CBP
Jun 22TXEagle Pass2 Guatemalan nationals drowned while fleeing Border PatrolU.S. CBP
Jun 23TXLaredovehicle transporting illegal immigrants fled Border Patrol and collided with another vehicle; 2 killed on site, 1 died 2 days later, 7 others injuredU.S. CBP
Jun 24AZTucsonillegal immigrant died from heatSouthern Border
Jun 25TXCarrizo SpringsMexican national died from bee stingsSouthern Border

Resources:

© 2021 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 5 July 2021.
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