Albert A. Aguilera, Marcelino M. Gamino Obituary, Death – The U.S. Marine Corps has officially identified the two Marines who lost their lives in a recent vehicle crash near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The tragic accident occurred during a military convoy operation along the southern U.S. border and has left the Marine community mourning.
The deceased service members have been named as Lance Corporal Albert A. Aguilera, 22, from Riverside, California, and Lance Corporal Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, from Fresno, California. Both men were assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion under the 1st Marine Division and were actively deployed as part of the Joint Task Force Southern Border mission.
The crash also critically injured a third Marine, whose identity has not yet been released. That Marine remains in serious condition and is receiving treatment at University Medical Hospital in El Paso, Texas, after being airlifted from the scene.
According to an official statement released by the Joint Task Force, the crash occurred during a scheduled convoy movement along the southern border. The details of what caused the vehicle accident have not been disclosed, as the investigation is still ongoing.
The commanding officer of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper, Lieutenant Colonel Tyrone A. Barrion, expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of the two young Marines. “The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,” Barrion said. “I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers. Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.”
The impact of this loss has reverberated beyond the military, with U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar of El Paso issuing a public statement. “I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday’s accident in Santa Teresa,” Escobar stated. “I’m praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I’m thinking of the families of all involved.”
As of now, former President Donald Trump has not commented publicly on the deaths of the two Marines. His administration had been responsible for deploying the active-duty troops to the southern border earlier in the year, citing the need to address what he described as a national emergency due to increased illegal immigration and cartel activity.
President Trump initially declared the national emergency at the southern border in mid-January, asserting that the U.S. was facing an “invasion” of migrants and drug traffickers. The declaration allowed for the deployment of thousands of military personnel to assist in border security and logistics. On January 25, the first 1,500 troops arrived at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and that number has since grown to roughly 6,600 service members stationed along the southern border with Mexico.
The Joint Task Force Southern Border was formed as part of this larger mission. It includes service members from multiple branches of the military who provide engineering support, surveillance assistance, and other logistical functions meant to reinforce border enforcement agencies.
There are also ongoing plans to develop Fort Bliss into a more permanent operations center for border activity. The Trump administration proposed using the base as a central hub for migrant detention and deportation proceedings. Construction for expanded facilities at Fort Bliss is expected to begin soon, though this has stirred controversy amid debates over immigration policy and military involvement in domestic enforcement.
Meanwhile, data continues to show that the number of migrants crossing the southern border has actually declined to historic lows. Despite the heavy military presence and heightened political rhetoric, the number of illegal crossings has not reached the crisis levels described by the administration.
Back in California, friends and family of Aguilera and Gamino are remembering them as dedicated servicemen who answered the call to serve their country. Lance Cpl. Aguilera was just 22 and had only recently begun his military career, while Lance Cpl. Gamino, 28, was viewed as a leader among his peers.
The Marine Corps has announced that it is working closely with the families of both fallen Marines to ensure they receive full support and honors during this painful time. No information has been released yet regarding funeral arrangements or memorial services, but the Marines will be honored in accordance with military tradition.
As the investigation into the crash continues, both the military and public officials are calling for a renewed focus on the safety of service members deployed on domestic missions. This tragedy has drawn attention not only to the personal loss of life but also to the broader implications of military involvement in non-combat border operations.
For now, the Marine Corps and the nation mourn the loss of two young men who served their country with courage and commitment, and hopes remain high for the recovery of the third injured Marine.