Mexican Man Clings to Hope After Shattering Leg in Border Wall Fall Near Sasabe

U.S. and Mexican officials have yet to transport a seriously injured 60-year-old Mexican man to a hospital after he fell from the border wall near Sasabe, Arizona, humanitarian aid workers reported. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Wednesday as the man attempted to scale the 30-foot-high “bollard wall” and fell, sustaining significant injuries.

Gail Kocourek, a volunteer with Tucson Samaritans, came upon the scene after another volunteer spotted the man. They provided him with food and water through gaps in the wall while he crawled to the items. After moving closer to the wall, he later informed the volunteers that he had lost consciousness for several hours following the fall. He managed to drag himself beneath a mesquite tree and awaited assistance until Samaritans arrived around 12:30 p.m.

Kocourek noted that the man suffered a broken tibia, which had broken through his skin. Emergency services were contacted immediately, and around 5:30 p.m., an ambulance from the Arivaca Fire Department arrived. Firefighters administered intravenous fluids and bandaged his wounds while carefully pulling his leg through the wall.

Despite the presence of Border Patrol agents along the scene, the injured man continued to wait for hours without medical assistance. Federal policy complicates matters, as the border wall is constructed inside the Roosevelt Reservation, making it unclear where jurisdiction lies regarding his transport for medical care.

The Sasabe area has seen a spike in migrant crossings, with individuals from numerous countries attempting perilous journeys through the remote desert. Recent reports noted that cartel activities and violence in associated regions in Sonora have pushed many seeking refuge to brave dangerous conditions in search of asylum in the U.S.

In mid-June, a significant incident involving Border Patrol resulted in injuries to both agents and migrants, highlighting the tense situation at the border. Observers noted a decline in apprehension figures following a proclamation from President Biden limiting asylum access for illegal crossers; however, migrants continue to traverse the desert.

As thunderstorms approached, volunteers took measures to aid the injured man, providing him with a raincoat they found in the area. Meanwhile, Mexican officials from the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional were contacted for assistance but indicated they would not arrive until the following morning.