Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Agents Rescue an Illegal Alien with Broken Ankle and One From Drowning Over the Weekend in Two Separate Events

Agents Rescue an Illegal Alien with Broken Ankle and One From Drowning Over the Weekend in Two Separate Events

Release Date
Tue, 08/11/2020

EL CENTRO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector rescued one illegal alien in distress in the Jacumba Wilderness region and one illegal alien from drowning in an irrigation canal east of Calexico in two separate events over the weekend.

BORSTAR and Mountain Disrupt Unit agents were forced to carry the man down the side of a mountain by foot to a suitable location for EMFS to land. The terrain in the area would make it impossible for EMFS to land due to the large rocks, cliffs, and natural desert vegetation. The first incident occurred on Friday at approximately 7:24 p.m., when agents assigned to El Centro Station apprehended a man in the Jacumba Wilderness south of Interstate 8 near In-Koh-Pah.  Agents noticed that the man was in pain and could not move.  Agents, who are trained first responders, were able to determine that the man had fractured his ankle.  Unable to safely move the man, agents requested the assistance from the Border Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) unit as well as local emergency medial flight services (EMFS).

BORSTAR agents, who are either national certified Emergency Medical Technicians or paramedics, were activated and sent to assist with the physical extraction of the injured man.  At approximately 9:18 p.m., BORSTAR agents arrived on scene, quickly assessed and stabilized the injured man onto a litter basket for extraction.  BORSTAR and Mountain Disrupt Unit agents were forced to carry the man down the side of a mountain by foot to a suitable location for EMFS to land.  The terrain in the area would make it impossible for EMFS to land due to the large rocks, cliffs, and natural desert vegetation. 

EMFS responded towards the location and arrived on scene.  They were able to safely land and extract the injured man.

The man, a 47-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, was transported to a hospital in San Diego to receive treatment for his injury.  The illegal alien will be transferred to the El Centro Station Processing Center once he is medically cleared from the hospital for processing.

Agents noticed that the man was in pain and could not move. Agents, who are trained first responders, were able to determine that the man had fractured his ankle.The second incident occurred Sunday at approximately 11:50 p.m., when Calexico Station’s Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS) room operators observed two individuals illegally cross the U.S. International Boundary and enter the Briar canal approximately 11 miles west of Calexico West Port of Entry.  The information was relayed to Calexico Station agents performing their assigned duties in the area and they responded to the location.

At approximately 12:15 a.m., agents located the two individuals and saw that one of them was struggling to stay above water.  Agents immediately launched an emergency rescue floatation disk towards the drowning individual.  The individual was able to grab the disk thrown near him.  Agents then successfully pulled the individual to the canal bank and then safely out of the canal.   Agents medically evaluated both individuals and determined that no further medical attention was needed.

The two men, both illegal aliens from Mexico, were transported to a rally point for processing where agents conducted a criminal background investigations and further medical screenings.  Both men were expelled to back to their country of origin immediately after they cleared the screening process.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021