The US military announced the names of two Marines killed in a vehicle crash after the car fell into a 10-foot ditch and rolled along a narrow highway in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, where they served President Trump’s border mission.
Two Marines have been identified As Lance CPL. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California; Marcelino M. Gamano, 28, of Fresno, California. According to the 1st Marine Division, they were both combat engineers of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion.
Aguilera enlisted in March 2023 and was promoted to Head of Lance Corp in May 2024, while Gamano enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to Head of Lance Corp in August 2024.
While serving his country, Gamano received a medal in Defense Services and a sea service deployment ribbon. He also deployed it last year in Darwin, Australia along with marine revolving force Darwin.
“Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. The loss of Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,” said U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Tyron A. Barion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper.
“I will spread my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of my brothers who have fallen. Our top priority is to ensure that their families and the affected Marines who have passed away are fully supported during this difficult time,” Barion added.
Marines were driving along a two-lane highway when they were about to pass another vehicle, rolling the vehicle into a ditch known as the “Snake Canyon,” a hangout for both smugglers and snakes, and hitting a wall of rock.
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Sources said that after trying to save a service member, a boundary agent was “covered from head to toe” in the blood.
“The area there is dangerous,” the source said.
“The canyon is quickly off the shoulder, making it a scary place to get away from the road. There are sensors as there are concrete tunnels running under the highway and illegal aliens are hidden beneath them and picked up by road vehicles,” another source said.
The Marines were then airlifted to a nearby hospital before eventually killing. According to the 1st Marine Division, the Third Marine with the battalion is in danger after being injured in the accident.
When Trump reentered the White House, he deployed thousands of additional forces at the southern border to stop the flow of illegal immigration and illegal drugs.
The border intersection has fallen to the lowest level Federal government data shows Border Patrol agents encountered around 7,100 immigrants in March, less than they saw in the first two days of March 2024.
