El Centro, California - U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector rescued a man that was in lost and distress in the Yuha Desert south of Plaster City.

At around 3:55 p.m., agents assigned to the El Centro Station encountered a man suspected of illegally entering the United States approximately 13 miles west of the Calexico West Downtown Port of Entry.  Agents took the man into custody and transported him to the El Centro Station for immigration and criminal history screening.

Agents found identification on the man and conducted records checks.   He was identified as an 83-year-old Lawful Permanent Resident.  Agents also determined that the man suffered from a mental disability and became disoriented and lost.

The man was in possession of a personal phone book and made contact with the man’s daughter who explained that her father had gone missing in Mexicali, Baja California that morning.  Border Patrol transported the man to the Calexico Port of Entry to reunite him with his daughter.

“I am very pleased to hear that our agents made a difference in this family’s life today,’’ said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Ryan J. Scudder.  “I could not imagine how it must of felt to have a loved one gone missing in such a vulnerable state.’’

The man was in good health and safely returned to his family at the Calexico Port of Entry.