Calls for investigation into unjust killing of Carmelo Cruz-Marcos and the Border Patrol vehicle pursuit in Santa Cruz County

TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 18, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) requested comprehensive independent investigations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) into two incidents involving U.S. Border Patrol. One resulted in the unjust killing of Carmelo Cruz-Marcos near Cochise County and the other involved a Border Patrol vehicle pursuit in Santa Cruz County that resulted in the death of two and injury of four unnamed migrants in a rollover crash. Rep. Grijalva additionally requested to be notified when individuals die under U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.

The two incidents occurred separately on February 19 and March 7, 2022, respectively, with few details available for public record.

Rep. Grijalva urged DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari to investigate and hold those responsible for the deaths accountable:

“It is reprehensible and unacceptable that these incidents have occurred. The agents responsible must be held accountable and these migrants and their families deserve justice. I request the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General conduct independent investigations into these unjust killings. Additionally, I request that the U.S. Congress and the public be notified of all deaths that take place in U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody.”

The full letter to DHS OIG can be found here.

###