Saturday, agents assigned to the Ajo station rescued twenty individuals from the elements of the desert. The agents encountered seven individuals that were suffering from dehydration near Sweetwater Canyon. One of the men in the group collapsed, his health deteriorated rapidly and he died at the scene.
The Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) unit, along with a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine helicopter was dispatched to the location. The group mentioned that 14 people from their group were missing. One of the missing was a pregnant woman in poor condition.
Agents initiated a search and after a few hours were able to find all 14 missing people. The pregnant woman and an extremely dehydrated man were transported by a “Life Flight” helicopter to a local hospital for further medical treatment. All 20 of the individuals rescued were determined to be Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States. All of the individuals, upon release, will be transported to a Border Patrol Station for further processing.
Yesterday, Pima County Sheriff’s Office routed a 911 call to BORSTAR. The caller explained that he was part of a group of six individuals that were without water and lost near Black Mountain. BORSTAR agents responded to the location and located all six individuals. BORSTAR agents were able to provide the first aid needed. All of the individuals declined further medical attention. The group was transported to a Border Patrol Station for further processing.
In a separate incident, BORSTAR agents received a 911 call of a group that was lost in the desert near Cowlic, Ariz. BORSTAR agents encountered the group just north of the village of Cowlic. BORSTAR agents provided first aid to those needing it. All four of the individuals in the group declined further medical attention. It was discovered that all of the individuals in the group were male Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States. The group was transported to a Border Patrol Station for further processing.
As the temperatures reach into triple digits the men and woman of the Tucson Sector Border Patrol, along with their law enforcement partners, stand ready as guardians of our nation’s borders.
However, at a moment’s notice agents can take on the responsibility of providing humanitarian aid to individuals stranded in the desert, including those left behind by smugglers. Once left behind in the desert, many frequently utilize rescue beacons currently deployed in Tucson Sector to call for assistance. This technology and rescue efforts reflect directly upon the effectiveness of the Border Safety Initiative that began in 1999. During fiscal year 2008 there were 459 rescues. In the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 there have been more than 300 rescues of persons in distress.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/07202009_5.xml
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