Ocotillo, California - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents in collaboration with San Diego Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) and Office of Air and Marine (OAM) rescued a woman in the desert suffering from heat and dehydration on Thursday.
The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m., when Border Patrol agents on patrol discovered four individuals north of the S-2 checkpoint. One of the individuals, a 33-year-old woman from Mexico, was on the ground and unresponsive. Agents immediately rendered first aid and requested Emergency Medical Support.
OAM Air Interdiction agents and BORSTAR agents in a helicopter near the area used Global Positioning Coordinates (GPS) to locate the Border Patrol agent requesting support. The helicopter landed and a BORSTAR agent, who is a certified Emergency Medical Technician, administered first aid and oxygen to the woman. She responded positively to the oxygen and the aid provided and was transported to the S-2 Border Patrol checkpoint for further evaluation and treatment. An ambulance responded and transported the woman to a local medical center for further care.
“It is physically impossible for immigrants to carry the amount of water needed to make this kind of journey,” said Acting Special Operations Supervisor Miguel Garcia. “Smugglers lie and say that it’s going to be a short walk and will only take a couple of hours to reach their destination. If a person can’t keep up with a group being smuggled, that person will simply be left behind to fend for themselves.”
The woman has been cleared and released by the medical center and was transported to El Centro Border Patrol station for processing. Record checks revealed that she has an active warrant for Contempt of Court from Arapahoe, Colorado. She will be extradited from El Centro to Colorado.
The El Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats. We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe. Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at 1-800-901-2003.
