SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Three officers armed with semi-automatic weapons approach a migrant who was being robbed by a bandit.
A gun battle ensues, and as the suspect tries to run away, he falls to the ground mortally wounded.
The migrant lies on the ground, also bleeding to death.
After the scene is secured, firefighters and paramedics move in to treat the migrant in distress.
They tend to several stab wounds and move him out of the area to a waiting emergency vehicle.
The migrant is actually a Border Patrol agent training firefighters and law enforcement personnel from Tijuana, and in this simulation, they’re learning how to deal with smugglers and injured migrants.
The training is part of an agreement between the U.S. Border Patrol and Mexico, and this week’s lessons have involved different scenarios and simulations on different days.
“We take stories, lessons learned from the past and apply them to our training,” said Border Patrol Agent Justin Castrejon. “The areas between ports of entry are very dangerous. … Crossing the border illegally is, inherently, dangerous. Sometimes there are acts of violence along the immediate border area.”
Castrejon says Border Patrol has working agreements with Mexico allowing for this type of training on a regular basis.
“We teach them all the protocols, all the procedures that we do to help them save lives along the border region.”
The instructors are members of Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma and Rescue Unit, or BORSTAR as it is known.
Castrejon, who himself is an Emergency Medical Technician, says they too are getting ready to help migrants as hot weather approaches.
“We’re moving into the summer months,” he said. “While it can be nice and cool in San Diego with a breeze, in can get very hot in the canyons and mountains — we hope people don’t cross the border, but if they do, and they find themselves in need, Border Patrol is there to help.”
Castrejon says this week’s training with the Tijuana officers and firefighters will save lives considering migrants are often targeted by bandits and smugglers before they reach the United States.
And if a migrant gets lost, abandoned or hurt on U.S. soil, Border Patrol agents will respond, Castrejon said.
“It’s important to remember, every single agent in the San Diego Sector and all along the border, is a first responder, time and time again, we’re called for help for people those who are in need, we’re there to answer that call.”
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