EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol Agents have been involved in four emergency rescue operations in far West Texas and Southern New Mexico since the beginning of July.
Border Patrol Agents from the Deming Border Patrol station were involved in the location and rescue of multiple distressed and lost individuals in extreme danger.
BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue) agents and CBP Air and Marine Operations assets aided agents in the recovery and rescue of multiple distressed subjects. Two different groups smuggled into the U.S. had individuals that became disoriented, separated, and left behind by smugglers in remote desert locations in New Mexico.
Additionally, El Paso Station Border Patrol Agents conducted emergency water rescues of several individuals from the perilous American Canal, in two separate incidents, within the last week. The agents located and saved several helpless individuals before they were swept away in the canal waterways.
There were a total of 10 distressed individuals rescued and two individuals saved from dangerous waterways in these incidents.
“These life-saving events continue to highlight the dangerous risks that illegal migrants are placed in by criminal organizations,” stated El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “I am grateful because 12 lives were saved as a result of the continued intra-agency collaboration between El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents, BORSTAR and Air and Marine Operations.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas.