El Centro, Calif. - The U.S. Border Patrol's Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue unit was called out for a search on Monday, resulting in the rescue of one individual.
At approximately 4:20 p.m., radio dispatchers received a call from Imperial County Sheriff's Office stating that a person had called requesting help. The person stated that he had been left behind after illegally crossing the border into the United States through the mountains near Ocotillo, Calif.
The stranded person was using a cellular telephone which allowed the Imperial County Sheriff's Office to generate GPS coordinates of the individual's location at the time of the call.
BORSTAR agents, along with Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine units, conducted a thorough search of the area. At the conclusion of about a three-hour search, agents were able to locate the individual. BORSTAR agents provided the individual with water, assessed his health and determined he did not require further medical assistance.
BORSTAR is one facet of the U.S. Border Patrol Border Security Initiative, which was implemented as a proactive, bi-national strategy to reduce injuries, prevent fatalities, and ultimately make the border region safer.