Overview

• Two Marines based at Camp Pendleton were killed and a third remains in serious condition following a vehicle rollover on Highway 9 near Santa Teresa, New Mexico on Tuesday morning.
• The Marines were deployed as part of the Joint Task Force Southern Border, established in March 2025 to centralize military operations supporting border security efforts ordered by President Trump.
• The accident occurred while the Marines were traveling in a civilian vehicle, with reports indicating the vehicle may have rolled into a ditch known locally as 'Snake Canyon.'
• The U.S. Northern Command has confirmed the fatalities as the first deaths associated with the current military border deployment, which involves over 10,000 active-duty personnel.
• The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending next-of-kin notifications, and the cause of the crash is under active investigation by military authorities.