Border Patrol Agents Rescue Two Men from Drowning

CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector rescued two men who were at risk of drowning in the All-American Canal and Briar Canal late Thursday evening.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:48 p.m., when Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) operators spotted two individuals illegally entering the United States eight miles east of the Calexico Downtown Port of Entry.  RVSS operators then advised that the illegal aliens had entered the All American Canal in attempt to swim across.  Agents were informed that one illegal alien was struggling to swim and that the other had make it across the canal and had entered the Briar Canal.  Shortly after, RVSS reported that both individuals appeared to be struggling to swim.

Agents with Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team (BORSTAR) responded to the Briar Canal location and heard a man in distress screaming for help.  Agents recognized that the man’s life was in imminent danger and immediately deployed a rope rescue throw bag.  Agents successfully pulled the drowning man to safety using the throw bag and extracted him out of the canal.

The BORSTAR agents then responded to the All American Canal to assist the second individual who was physically exhausted and could no longer swim.  One agent entered the embankment wearing a personal flotation device and safely extracted the second man out of the canal.

The BORSTAR agents, who are also Emergency Medical Technicians, assessed the two men and determined no further immediate medical attention was needed.  The two illegal aliens were taken into custody and transported to an immigration rally point.  Both adult Mexican males were expelled back to their country of origin.