Camp Pendleton identifies Marines who died in rollover crash patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border

Camp Pendleton officials on Thursday identified two Marines who died earlier this week in a rollover crash along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.

Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, of Fresno, died Tuesday while supporting Joint Task Force Southern Border operations, which was established in March as part of President Donald Trump’s border security initiatives, officials said.

Aguilera enlisted in March 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal in May 2024. Gamino enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal in August 2024. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He deployed to Darwin, Australia, with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin in 2024.

A third, unnamed Marine was hospitalized in critical condition. officials said.

All three Marines were combat engineers with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, officials said.

The crash occurred around 8:50 a.m. near the city of Santa Teresa, the task force said in a statement posted on X. The Marines were on their way to El Paso, Texas, a spokesperson said.

The Marines were taken to University Medical Hospital in El Paso, where Aguilar and Gamino died.

Further details about the crash were not released.

“The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,” said Marine Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, the commanding officer for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper. “I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers.”

The I Marine Expeditionary Force has been operating along the border since January. The Marines working along the San Diego border have primarily been reinforcing the existing U.S.-Mexico barriers with layers of concertina wire.

San Diego County sailors have also been patrolling the border area by sea, with USS Stockdale, a destroyer, taking up a position.