Nathaniel A. Afolayan
Incident
Location: New Mexico Incident Date: Thursday, April 30, 2009
Border Patrol Agent Intern Nathaniel Afolayan passed away the day after collapsing at the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico.
He had just completed the 1½-mile run portion of the physical techniques final exam when he collapsed.
He was flown to the Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas, where he passed away the following day.
Agent Afolayan had been sworn in as an agent at the beginning of the academy session in February and had served with the Border Patrol for 10 weeks.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Border Patrol Agent Intern Afolayan served with the United States Department of Homeland Security.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Agent Intern Afolayan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol has lost 63 officers; 21 of them lost to illness.
Nathaniel is one of 137 officers lost to illness in DC, 9.7% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Nathaniel is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Nathaniel is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2009, 1 officer at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol was lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 6 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 13.
In 2009, 3 officers in DC were lost to illness, the 8th heaviest of 25 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 45.
In 2009, 19 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 17th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2009, 24 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 17th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Nathaniel was 29. Of the 21 lost to illness at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 48; the middle age was 47. Nathaniel had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 18.6 years.
Nathaniel was 29. Of the 136 lost to illness in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 45 and 56.3; the middle age was 51. Nathaniel had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Nathaniel was 29. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Nathaniel had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Nathaniel was 29. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Nathaniel had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
May holds 23.8% of these deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, more than any other month. Fridays: 23.8%.
May holds 8.8% of these deaths in DC; October holds the most, 13.9%. Fridays: 13.1%.
May holds 6.2% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Fridays: 14.8%.
May holds 6.7% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Fridays: 14.9%.
How
Illness deaths account for 33.3% of all 63 deaths at United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, the 2nd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 9.7% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol has 63 officers remembered here, Nathaniel among them.
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James Paul Epling
Dec 16, 2003
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Travis Wayne Attaway
Sep 19, 2004
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Jeremy Michael Wilson
Sep 19, 2004
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George Brian DeBates
Dec 19, 2004
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Nicholas Darren Greenig
Mar 14, 2006
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David Norman Webb
Nov 3, 2006
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Ramon Nevarez, Jr.
Mar 15, 2007
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David Tourscher
Mar 16, 2007
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Richard Goldstein
May 11, 2007
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Eric N. Cabral
Jul 26, 2007
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Luis Alberto Aguilar
Jan 19, 2008
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Jarod Charles Dittman
Mar 30, 2008
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Nathaniel A. Afolayan
May 1, 2009
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Cruz C. McGuire
May 21, 2009
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Robert Wimer Rosas, Jr.
Jul 23, 2009
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Mark F. Van Doren
May 24, 2010
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Michael Vincent Gallagher
Sep 2, 2010
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Brian A. Terry
Dec 15, 2010
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Eduardo Rojas, Jr.
May 12, 2011
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Hector R. Clark
May 12, 2011
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Leopoldo Cavazos, Jr.
Jul 6, 2012
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James Ray Dominguez
Jul 19, 2012
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Jeffrey Ramirez
Sep 15, 2012
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Nicholas J. Ivie
Oct 2, 2012
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David Richard Delaney
Nov 2, 2012
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Alexander Irving Giannini
May 28, 2014
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Javier Jr Vega Jr.
Aug 3, 2014
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Tyler Ryan Robledo
Sep 12, 2014
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Jose Daniel Barraza
Apr 18, 2016
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Manuel Alejandro Alvarez
Aug 11, 2016
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David Gomez
Nov 16, 2016
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Isaac Morales
May 24, 2017
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Rogelio Martinez
Nov 19, 2017
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Donna Marie Doss
Feb 2, 2019
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Robert Mark Hotten
Oct 6, 2019
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Luis O. Peña, Jr.
Dec 23, 2019
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Johan Mordan
Jun 11, 2020
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Enrique J. Rositas, Jr.
Jul 11, 2020
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Agustin Aguilar, Jr.
Jul 25, 2020
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Marco Antonio Gonzales
Aug 5, 2020
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Alejandro Flores-Bañuelos
Mar 15, 2021
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Christopher Shane Simpkins
Apr 12, 2021
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Freddie Vasquez
May 8, 2021
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Juan Manuel Urrutia
May 28, 2021
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Daniel Paul Cox
Jul 31, 2021
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Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano
Jul 31, 2021
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Ricardo Zarate
Aug 16, 2021
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Chad Edward McBroom
Aug 29, 2021
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Luis Heriberto Dominguez
Sep 23, 2021
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David Blanco Ramirez
Sep 26, 2021
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Alfredo Moises Ibarra
Sep 27, 2021
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Rafael Gilberto Sanchez
Oct 24, 2021
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Anibal Antonio Perez
Nov 5, 2021
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Martin Barrios
Nov 29, 2021
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Salvador Martinez, Jr.
Nov 30, 2021
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Daniel Humberto Salazar
May 13, 2022
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Raul Humberto Gonzalez, Jr.
Dec 7, 2022
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Freddy Ortiz
Nov 14, 2023
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Christopher Luna
Mar 8, 2024
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Jesus Anaya
May 23, 2024
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David Christopher Maland
Jan 20, 2025
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Eric Cespedes
Jul 11, 2025
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Sean M. McDonough
May 1, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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