A shooting that occurred on the afternoon of July 1, 2025, at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales forced the temporary closure of the vehicle and pedestrian crossing connecting the municipality of Nogales and the state of Arizona. The incident involved a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, who shot an armed individual who posed a threat.
Following these events, the injured person was transported to a hospital in the United States after the shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m.
Access was immediately closed exclusively to vehicles for approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes, but a gradual reopening began around 10:00 p.m. with only two lanes open. Shortly after, pedestrian access was reopened, and traffic was subsequently diverted to the Mariposa alternate port of entry, where lines of up to 45 minutes were recorded.
Cross-border coordination and response in Nogales, Sonora
Authorities in Nogales, Sonora, reported that a binational cooperation protocol was activated. Teams from CBP, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General (DHS OIG), and the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) responded to investigate the incident. The cordon was also reinforced by the Municipal Police on the Mexican side, with efforts to contain traffic and ensure security.
The closure impacted cross-border workers, visitors, and truckers. With the Dennis DeConcini port of entry partially blocked, wait times at the Mariposa port were significantly extended, impacting the normal flow of crossings.
Gradual Reopening After the Shooting
The port of entry reopened with increased security measures. Two vehicle lanes were also opened, while authorities promised to review and adjust border screening protocols. The port’s acting director, Laura Hermosillo, confirmed that investigations will continue and that measures will be strengthened to prevent future incidents.
Ultimately, the July 1 shooting at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry highlights the ongoing security challenges in border areas, where collaboration between U.S. and Mexican agencies is crucial to ensuring the mobility and protection of people on both sides of the border.
Security Context
This is the second incident of its kind in less than a year. In October 2024, another shooting at the same port of entry involved the use of a weapon by a CBP agent. Furthermore, this case adds to a series of confrontations with officers in southern Arizona so far in 2025, with at least four shootings involving law enforcement.
Source: infobae
