OCOTILLO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector rescued an undocumented individual in the Jacumba Wilderness Region, Saturday afternoon.
At approximately 3:21 p.m. El Centro Sector’s Foreign Operations Branch notified El Centro station of a call they received regarding an injured individual in need of assistance. The caller stated that she is the spouse of the injured individual and gave the last known G.P.S. coordinates.
At approximately 5:20 p.m., utilizing the information provided by the caller, agents located the injured individual, four and a half miles north of the United States/Mexico border. A wellness check conducted of the individual determined that additional medical assistance was needed due to pain in his left leg.
“Unfortunately, when individuals put their trust in smugglers to cross the border illegally there are very high risks of injuries, dehydration, and sometimes death”, said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino.
Agents requested that Emergency Medical Services be dispatched out to their location. He was transported to a local nearby hospital for further medical treatment. Upon his release from the hospital, he will be transported to El Centro Sector Processing Center.
“As in this rescue our agent’s aide hundreds of undocumented individuals each year who are deserted by unscrupulous human smugglers in the El Centro Sector. The border is closed – do not become another casualty”, said Bovino.
The 51-year-old adult male, Mexican national, did not possess the required documents to be legally present in the United States and will be expelled from the U.S. under Title 42.
Since October, El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents have successfully rescued 214 individuals who were lost, in distress, or abandoned by smugglers.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. For all news, information, and updates follow us on Twitter @CBPElCentro, @USBPChiefELC and Instagram.