ImmediateResponse

Immediate Response 25 is a U.S. Army large-scale exercise enhancing cyber and CBRNE defense capabilities, NATO integration through state partnership readiness programs and multinational exercises to equip NATO’s regional plans and uphold U.S. commitments to the Alliance. Immediate Response 25 demonstrates multinational live fires conducted with NATO networks, a cyber exercise, water crossing, and CBRNE exercises from May 26 - June 9 with over 12,000 participants and hosted in eight countries to include Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Slovakia.

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Woman dies after fall from International Border Fence near Otay Mesa Port of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs - Visual Communications Division

July 17, 2024 | 27:14

On March 21, 2024, at approximately 10:27 p.m., the U.S. Border Patrol Tactical Communications Center reported via service radio that multiple individuals were approaching the secondary International Border Fence approximately 2.7 miles west of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and were carrying a ladder. At this location, the secondary International Border Fence is approximately 30 feet tall and is constructed of vertical metal bollards. The north side of the secondary fence has an electrical conduit running across the top the fence, which facilitates the use of an electric gate nearby.

Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) established the following information and timeline based on its preliminary review of radio traffic, remote video surveillance systems footage, body worn camera footage, and interviews of involved migrants and CBP personnel.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., a Border Patrol agent arrived on scene between the primary and secondary fences at the base of the secondary International Border Fence. The agent observed a woman on top of the fence and advised the woman not to go over the fence or attempt to scale down the north side of the fence. Shortly thereafter, the woman crossed to the north side of the secondary fence and attempted to scale down the north side of the fence, but was unable to continue her descent.

At approximately 10:31 p.m., the agent transmitted over radio that the woman was stuck on the north side of the secondary fence and requested the San Diego Fire Department be notified. The woman began yelling for assistance, and the agent advised her that help was on the way.

At approximately 10:33 p.m., the agent told the woman to hold on and not let go, and advised her the fire department was enroute with a ladder. At approximately 10:34 p.m., an unknown individual approached the north side of the fence from a nearby commercial lot and notified the agent that his coworker had a ladder available. The agent advised the individual that they could not utilize any ladders until fire department personnel arrived. At approximately 10:35 p.m., the agent apprehended another migrant who was walking along the south side of the secondary International Border Fence.

At approximately 10:45 p.m., a second agent arrived on the scene at the base of the south side of the secondary International Border Fence in his service vehicle, followed by a San Diego Fire Department fire truck. The first agent on scene explained to the newly arrived agent and fire department personnel that the woman was stuck on the north side of the secondary fence.

The second agent and the fire department truck departed the scene at approximately 10:47 p.m., heading toward a nearby gate that provides access to the north side of the International Border Fence, approximately 520 feet east of the woman’s location. Because of the size of the fire truck, it could not navigate the sharp west turn to enter the gate and took an alternate route to reach the woman’s location.

At approximately 10:48 p.m., the woman yelled she was struggling to hold on to the fence. The agent at the base of the south side of the fence told the woman the fire department would be there to assist within minutes. At approximately 10:50 p.m., an agent arrived on the north side of the fence at the woman’s location. The woman began yelling for them to hurry and yelled she could not hold on any longer. Agents advised the woman that the firefighters were on the way with a ladder and instructed her to hold on as long as she could. At approximately 10:53 p.m., the agent on the north side of the fence drove away to meet with other agents and coordinate the transportation of other migrants apprehended in the area.

At approximately 10:54 p.m., the woman yelled she was going to fall, then subsequently fell from the fence, striking the elevated concrete base on the north side of the secondary fence and ultimately landing on the dirt road below. The agent on the south side of the fence requested emergency medical services via service radio and advised that the woman had fallen.

At approximately 10:59 p.m., another agent arrived at the north side of the fence where the woman had fallen. The agent advised over radio that the woman had massive head trauma and profuse bleeding, and was unresponsive.

At approximately 11:04 p.m., the San Diego Fire Department fire truck arrived at the woman’s location on the north side of the secondary fence. At approximately 11:05 p.m., fire department personnel conducted a medical assessment, noted the woman had no pulse, and initiated CPR.

At approximately 11:17 p.m., a physician located at Scripps Mercy Hospital declared the woman deceased after a telephone consultation with San Diego Fire Department medical personnel at the scene. The woman was identified as a 24-year-old citizen of Guatemala. Officers from the San Diego Police Department arrived on scene at approximately 11:43 p.m.

On March 22, 2024, at approximately 1:20 a.m., personnel from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office arrived on scene and assumed custody of the woman’s body. The medical examiner’s office will perform an autopsy and advised CBP’s OPR the results would be furnished when available.

The San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating this incident. OPR is reviewing it. CBP’s OPR notified the San Diego Fire Department Professional Standards Unit and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General of this incident.
Portions of this incident were captured on body worn cameras of multiple Border Patrol agents. In accordance with the May 25, 2022, Executive Order on Advancing Effective Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, CBP is committed to expeditiously releasing the body worn camera footage of this incident as soon as it is appropriate to do so and will not impact the ongoing law enforcement investigations.
This notification is being issued to the public pursuant to the CBP policy regarding Notification and Review Procedures for Certain Deaths and Deaths in Custody and the Department of Homeland Security FY 2021 Appropriation (H. Rept. 116-458) reporting requirements related to CBP-involved deaths.

Albania
In Albania, the New Jersey Army National Guard will conduct live-fire activities with Albanian Armed Forces, as part of the State Partnership Program.
Bulgaria
The USAREUR-AF Band & Chorus, along with other U.S. Army units, will conduct a series of dynamic performances and community engagements across Bulgaria ahead of DEFENDER 25.

In Bulgaria, the 31st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Brigade, Alabama Army National Guard, will have personnel provide protection support to NATO’s 1st German Netherlands Corps and command and control of all CBRNE units and training in Immediate Response 25. A CBRN headquarters will be established at a satellite location to execute a division-level CBRN mission command center.

Additionally, the Bulgarian national exercise, Bulgarian Sentinel, will be linked to Immediate Response 25 and consists of a battalion from 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division, one Forward Land Forces (FLF) multinational battlegroup and Bulgarian Land Force Command conducting a battalion-level live-fire exercise at two separate training areas. (The FLF is one of eight battlegroups contributing to NATO’s forward presence and hosted by Bulgaria, with Italy being the framework nation.)
Croatia

In Croatia, troops from the U.S. Army 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st TSC, will establish a Theater Detention Facility and a Joint Interrogation and Debriefing Center (JIDC) to increase detention operations, expeditionary deployment operations and command and control capabilities with Allies and partners. Role 2 ancillary medical support will be supported by the Croatian Armed Forces.

Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard will conduct a live fire exercise with their state partner, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Additionally, a mechanized brigade attack training event will take place with soldiers from the U.S., Albania, Croatia, Germany, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.

Two Croatian national exercises, named Lift and Laufer, will be linked to exercise Immediate Response 25.
Greece

Immediate Response kicks off in Greece - The Hellenic Army will host an opening ceremony with multinational participation marking the commencement of Immediate Response 25. Equipment and weaponry being used during the exercise will also be on display.

In Greece, a water crossing and battalion air assault will occur with personnel from the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard, and Greek 20th Armored Division.

Combined arms live-fire training will take place near Petrochori. A chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive training event will take place at a Hellenic port to demonstrate a chemical attack, disrupting port operations, and exercise decontamination scenarios with French, Greek and U.S. forces including the U.S. Army 21st TSC and 184th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Explosive Ordnance Device Group, 20th CBRNE Command.
Kosovo
In Kosovo, personnel from 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard will participate in Immediate Response 25 as a division headquarters overseeing four multinational brigades.
Montenegro

In Montenegro, Maine Army National Guard, Montenegro Armed Forces, and host nation government agencies will conduct a cyber range enhancing host nation cyber defense and communications security to deter and defend in crisis and conflict.

U.S. Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2, and Montenegrin and Albania Naval Forces will conduct port security sustainment training in Montenegro and transfer to Albania to improve force projection and integration in the Adriatic.
North Macedonia

A public event will be held in the city of Kavadarci, where NATO Allies and partners will showcase military equipment and vehicles being used during Immediate Response 25.

The 86^th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont Army National Guard will conduct a multinational live fire exercise alongside their state partner, North Macedonia.

In North Macedonia, the 86th IBCT will conduct training activities alongside the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Austrian Armed Forces, Albanian Armed Forces, Hellenic Army, Kosovo Security Forces, and Armed Forces of Montenegro. Activities at Krivolak Training Area include mountain training, field training exercise, combined arms live-fire and small arms live-fires.
Slovakia
In Slovakia, U.S. Army 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory, 20th CBRNE Command, will conduct defensive CBRNE tasks to mitigate threats while being integrated with a multinational CBRNE task force at the CBRN Training and Testing Center.

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