SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. Border Patrol agents from San Diego stayed with two stranded and injured Mexican women in the Otay Mountain wilderness and built a makeshift shelter until they could be airlifted to safety, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports.
U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to a rescue call from Mexican authorities just after midnight on Friday for two Mexican women who had crossed the border into the United States illegally and were in distress with injuries and depleting food and water supplies. One of the women was reportedly pregnant as well.
CBP reports Border Patrol agents found the women 6 miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in a remote canyon in the Otay Mountain wilderness.
When agents reached the women, they found both were unable to walk because of ankle injuries. However, because of the cold weather and dense fog that night, the medical evacuation helicopter was unable to fly.
Agents from the Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) stayed with the women overnight and built a makeshift shelter to keep them out of the cold until they could be airlifted out of the canyon, according to CBP, which said the weather that night on the mountain had dropped to near-freezing levels during a cold front.
Once weather conditions improved, a San Diego Sheriff’s Department helicopter extracted the women the next morning and took them to a nearby fire station for medical examination.
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Agents found, assisted the two injured females, and remained on scene to provide shelter until the two females were successfully airlifted (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection) -
Border Patrol Agents from Chula Vista Station responded to a distress call from two females on Otay Mountain (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
Once their injuries were cleared, the women were taken to a Border Patrol station for processing and removal from the United States, according to CBP.
CBP emphasized the dangers of illegally crossing the border at any time of the year.
“I’m extremely proud of the Border Patrol agents who work tirelessly to safeguard our nation while also rendering aid to those in distress,” said San Diego Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker. “The border region can be treacherous, with extreme weather and rugged terrain posing serious dangers. Entering illegally not only breaks the law but also puts lives at risk.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says you can report suspicious activity by calling 911 or the San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.
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