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  4. Border Patrol Rescues and Assists Six Individuals in Separate Incidents This Past Weekend

Border Patrol Rescues and Assists Six Individuals in Separate Incidents This Past Weekend

Release Date
Wed, 11/19/2014

TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued three individuals and assisted three others involved in vehicle accidents over the weekend.

Early Monday morning, Casa Grande agents responded to a rescue beacon activation that resulted in the rescue of an illegal immigrant from Mexico.

Casa Grande agents also assisted a man and woman Sunday evening after receiving a request from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to locate individuals reportedly involved in an ATV accident near Arizona City.  An agent, certified as an EMT, found the individuals who subsequently refused medical treatment but allowed agents to assist them in getting back to their residence.

In a separate incident Sunday, agents from the Office of Air and Marine and Casa Grande station worked jointly to locate a male Ecuadorian lost in the desert after being separated from his group that crossed into the U.S. illegally.

On Saturday morning, an off-duty Border Patrol agent with EMT certification, responded to a car accident outside his home and discovered a female occupant with severe injuries. The agent started performing CPR on the woman and attempted to revive her using a defibrillator. Unfortunately, the woman passed away from her injuries.

Douglas agents rescued a man lost in the desert and suffering from severe dehydration and rhabdomyolysis Friday morning after crossing into the U.S. illegally.  Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood.

Border Patrol agents frequently shift from law enforcement to rescue mode.  With over 50 full-time Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents, 255 EMTs, 16 paramedics and 32 rescue beacons, agents are able to assist those who find themselves in dire situations. Many migrants become victims of unscrupulous smugglers concerned only with monetary gain; not with the lives of people they lead into the treacherous Sonoran desert.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous. 

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.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021