TUCSON, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents from the Willcox Station and a Mobile Response Team rescued three Mexican nationals west of Whetstone late Sunday and early Monday.
An agent working north of the Immigration Checkpoint on Interstate 90 first encountered a 24-year-old Mexican man Sunday night with a laceration on his face. The man told the agent he and his wife had fallen into a deep wash and that she was unable to walk. He said he left her behind with a relative so he could search for help.
A team of agents searched the area and located the man’s 26-year-old wife and a 20-year-old male relative shortly after midnight. Due to the woman’s injuries, agents had to stabilize her on a backboard and carry her to a suitable location for transport by an air ambulance to a local hospital.
During processing, agents determined all three Mexican nationals were in the United States illegally. They will be processed for immigration violations and returned to Mexico following their medical treatment.
Border Patrol officials encourage anyone in distress to call 911 or activate a rescue beacon before becoming a casualty. In the Tucson Sector’s harsh desert environment, Border Patrol security operations can quickly turn into humanitarian operations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.