YUMA, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents from the Yuma and Wellton Stations retrieved three illegal aliens during two weekend rescues.
In the first event at approximately 10 a.m. Saturday, Wellton Station agents learned that two men from Mexico had called for help on a cell phone and lit a signal fire after they ran out of water. Agents located the subjects south of Interstate 8, near Wellton. After determining that neither subject required medical attention, agents arrested them for immigration violations.
At approximately 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Yuma Station agents assigned to the Marine Patrol Unit saw a man struggling to stay afloat in the Colorado River near County 7th Street and used a rescue bag to pull him to safety. The subject, an illegal alien from Mexico, was assessed for injuries and transported to Yuma Station for further processing.
Yuma Sector agents are specifically trained to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals they encounter in distress while conducting their border security mission. All agents gents are trained as first responders, and many have advanced training and specialized equipment to perform water rescues and treat heat-related illnesses.