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    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.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. Binational Coordination Leads to the Rescue of Four Individuals Lost in the Mountains

Binational Coordination Leads to the Rescue of Four Individuals Lost in the Mountains

Release Date
Wed, 06/03/2020

OCOTILLO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector successfully aided four individuals that were lost in the mountains Monday night.

U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector successfully aided four individuals that were lost in the mountains Monday night.The incident occurred at around 11:32 p.m.,  when El Centro Sector Radio Communications (Dispatch) was contacted by Grupo Beta regarding two individuals lost in the mountains near the Jacumba Wilderness.  The individuals stated that they crossed through the mountains into the United States illegally, were unable to walk, and have been lost for an entire day without food and water.

Dispatch relayed the information to the El Centro Sector Border Search Trauma and Rescue team (BORSTAR) who responded immediately to the GPS coordinates provided by dispatch and Grupo Beta.  BORSTAR agents successfully located the two individuals, both adult Mexican men, on a hill approximately three miles south of Interstate 8.

While in route to rescue the two men, BORSTAR agents discovered two additional individuals approximately 200 meters away.  The two subjects, one man and one woman, had also become lost attempting to illegally enter the United States and were without food and water.

BORSTAR agents medically assessed all four individuals and provided them with food and water. 

The individuals did not need further medical assistance.

BORSTAR agents determined that all four individuals crossed together, and they were all from Mexico illegally present in the United States.  The individuals were placed under arrest and transported to an immigration rally point for further processing.

The individuals, all adult illegal aliens, were expelled back to their country of origin.

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