Veteran Border Patrol agent killed in crash that involved other agent

A veteran Border Patrol agent who was killed on duty south of Sells was in a motorcycle crash involving another agent, the head of the agency’s Tucson Sector said Friday.

Agent Manuel Alvarez, 37, was assigned to the Casa Grande Station of the Tucson Sector and was an agent for 13 years. He is survived by his wife and four children, said Border Patrol Chief Paul A. Beeson.

During a news conference at the Tucson Sector headquarters at South Swan and East Golf Links roads, Beeson said the accident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on a dirt road in a remote area the agents patrol on the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The Tohono O’odham Nation’s capital is Sells, which is 60 miles southwest of Tucson. The nation, which is the size of Connecticut, stretches across 75 miles of U.S.-Mexico border.

The area where Alvarez and the other agent were working at is better suited for patrol on motorcycles or ATVs, said Beeson, of the desert that is crossed by illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.

“The exact cause of the accident is unknown at this time,” Beeson said. He did not elaborate further.

The incident is being investigated by the Tohono O’odham Police Department, and Border Patrol is supporting the department in the investigation, said Beeson.

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The other agent involved in the accident received minor injuries, and is on leave.

Beeson said agents are focusing on Alvarez’s family and providing support and assistance. It is a difficult time for both the family and fellow agents, he said.

Alvarez’s death will be a “loss felt by all of us for a very long time,” Beeson said. He described Alvarez as a “dedicated” agent who “loved” his job. “Not everyone signs up to ride motorcycles. It is a tough and dirty job on dirt roads,” he said.

After the news conference, Art Del Cueto, president of the local Border Patrol agents union, said he and Alvarez were in the academy together and knew each other for 13 years.

“We were friends and I saw him as a brother agent. We leaned on each other. I will always remember his smile and laughter,” said Del Cueto, adding that this tragedy is especially difficult.

“He was a fantastic guy, agent and friend,” said Del Cueto, mentioning the overwhelming support shown to agents by other law enforcement agencies.