OCOTILLO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector rescued seven undocumented individuals in the Jacumba Wilderness region in two separate events over the weekend.
The first incident occurred Saturday at approximately 5:54 p.m., when agents working in the field encountered and apprehended a group of three undocumented men. The group stated that there was an additional person, a 55-year-old woman, who traveled north with them but could not keep up at their pace and was eventually left behind and may be lost.
Agents responded and began the search for the individual. El Centro Sector’s Border Search Trauma and Rescue Unit also responded to assist in the search.
At approximately 6:47 p.m., agents located the lost woman about three miles north of the U.S./Mexico border. Agents conducted welfare checks of the individuals and safely escorted them back to the vehicle.
The four adult individuals from Mexico were apprehended and transported to the El Centro Sector Processing Center to be medically evaluated.
The second incident occurred Sunday at approximately 10:30 p.m., when El Centro Station received a call from the Boulevard Border Patrol Station, San Diego Sector, regarding a group of undocumented individuals possibly lost in the mountains near Ocotillo. The size of the group was unknown, but GPS coordinates and a contact number of someone in Mexico with additional information of the group was provided.
Station Dispatch notified agents working in the field about the call and the provided information. Agents responded and began to search for the group.
At approximately 4 a.m., agents located the group of six undocumented men about two miles north of the U.S./Mexico border. Agents conducted welfare checks of the individuals and determined that one of the individuals appeared to show signs of dehydration and needed further medical treatment. Emergency Medical Services was dispatched to the scene and transported the individual via ambulance to a local nearby hospital where he made a full recovery.
The other five individuals were safely escorted back to the vehicle and transported to the El Centro Sector Processing Center to be medically evaluated.
Through interview it was confirmed that the six individuals, all adults from Mexico, rescued were the group initially reported about.
All individuals of each incident will be processed accordingly.
Since October, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents have successfully rescued 315 individuals lost or in distress.