A man died in Starr County on the Texas-Mexico border after a shooting involving U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents, state authorities confirmed on Dec. 12.
The case occurs in one of the most heavily guarded and tense sectors of the southern border, where in recent years there has been an increase in incidents involving lethal force.
Starr County shooting leaves one dead
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that the Texas Rangers, the state unit charged with investigating officer-involved shootings, has initiated a formal inquiry.
Initial reports indicate that the individual was shot at least once during an encounter with federal agents.
He was transported to Starr County Memorial Hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.
So far, his identity has not been revealed and no details have been given as to what led to the confrontation, confirming that the case is still in a preliminary stage of investigation.
Over the past decade – and with greater intensity since 2021 – human rights organizations and border communities have documented a significant increase in cases where Border Patrol has used lethal force or high-risk tactics.
The tightening of immigration policies, the expansion of territorial control in Texas and coordination with the statewide Texas Tactical Border Force have created an environment where encounters between civilians and agents are occurring with greater frequency and tension.
In this context, incidents such as the one that occurred in Starr County raise concerns due to the initial lack of public information and the absence of uniform transparency protocols.
Although since 2022 CBP began implementing body cameras on some of its personnel, the deployment is not total and many border sectors still do not have the technology, which limits the documentation of the facts.
Deaths registered and patterns identified by civil organizations
The Southern Border Communities Coalition (SBCC), a coalition of more than 60 organizations that monitors abuses and civil rights violations at the border, notes that since 2010 at least 351 people have died in confrontations or contact situations with CBP agents. These deaths include:
People shot during border encounters.
Fatalities in vehicular pursuits.
Cases of migrants who died in custody due to lack of adequate medical care.
Cross-border shootings, where U.S. agents fired into Mexican territory.
Cross-border shootings are especially controversial, as they have generated lawsuits in federal courts over the legal scope of the use of force when victims are outside the U.S. and the government’s liability in such cases.
Several Mexican families continue to litigate for reparations or even explanations.
Why these types of incidents directly affect the U.S. Hispanic community.
The southern border is not only a crossing point for migrants: it is also home to entire communities of U.S. citizens of Latino origin, binational families and workers who live in constant contact with federal and state operations.
For many of them, each incident revives fears about:
The possibility of fatal errors or confusion.
Lack of independent oversight over federal agents.
Difficulty in obtaining clear information when a shooting occurs.
The fragility of civil rights in militarized zones.
In addition, investigations often take months to produce public reports, adding to the sense of uncertainty among border residents.
