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Air Operations
Eighteen pilots fly our fleet of helicopters which consist of four OH-6A's, four MD-500E's, three MD-600N's, and one UH-1H. Our flight schedules enable us to provide twenty-four hour coverage, seven days a week in support of agents of the San Diego Sector. In addition to the pilots, eight aircraft mechanics and one supply technician provide the support to properly maintain our fleet. The helicopters prove particularly effective in deterring and detecting the illegal entry of people into the United States. From their elevated vantage points, Border Patrol Pilots are able to discover and monitor surreptitious entries and coordinate with mobile units the arrest of law violators.The time required to apprehend illegal entrants is greatly reduced with the assistance of the helicopters. Pilots are able to maintain visual contact with subjects who flee the scene when apprehended by US Border Patrol Agents and direct those agents to the sites to which the individuals have fled. The UH-1H and MD-600N are utilized in the insertion of agents with the Air Mobile Unit, saving precious time and energy, and enabling those agents to successfully operate in an area that is heavily used by alien smugglers. In addition, the UH-1H is used in conjunction with the BORSTAR unit, making the agents of the unit much more responsive and effective in times of crisis and medical emergent situations.In providing assistance to our Anti-Smuggling Agents, the helicopters function as covert observation posts, and pilots can monitor the movement of people and smugglers alike. The pilots have established a proven capability to provide photographic evidence of illegal activities, which serve as the basis for securing judicial warrants and criminal prosecutions.All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Unit
One of the main advantages of ATVs is their superior mobility and their ability to traverse landscapes that are inaccessible to conventional Service 4x4 vehicles. The ATVs are able to access remote canyons and ridges and open fields and grasslands, as well as brush lined areas, to detect and apprehend illegal aliens. The ATVs can do this in wet or dry conditions with little fear of getting stuck. The ATVs are also superb vehicles for sign-cutting trails and roads. The close to the ground profile affords agents an excellent platform to view and follow tracks over virtually any terrain.Another advantage of the ATVs is their ability to operate in areas quietly and covertly if needed. Agents are able to ride the ATVs using available terrain masking features to approach close to groups, while maintaining their mobility in the event of a change of direction. Conversely, the ATV unit has also been extremely effective at maintaining high visibility at night, again in a proactive stance, when needed to deter illegal alien traffic from entering.When working in conjunction with an infrared scope, ATV units are able to respond at a moments notice with very high agent-to-alien apprehension ratios. What is difficult to measure is the total number of aliens that have been deterred and/or turned back south as a result of the ATVs' working in major crossing corridors. However, it is a well known fact that the mere presence of these ATVs greatly intimidate would be illegal crossers, because they know that it is very difficult to escape being apprehended and impossible to outrun them.The ATV Unit has a mandatory two-week (80 hour) rider safety course. This course was designed to educate riders in order to eliminate ATV related accidents and agent injuries. The new safety course is calculated to instruct riders from the ground up and assumes nothing. All riders are treated the same and are taught the basics of the ATV, as well as progressive principles to maintain control, increase rider awareness, and to identify terrain and obstacles. It is mandatory that all new riders attend and successfully complete this course prior to assignment to the ATV unit.Border Search, Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR)
BORSTAR began it's development stages in March of 1998. The founding members were given the task of creating a team that could provide immediate response to the Border Patrol and other local, county, and state agencies. Members of the BORSTAR Team are familiar with the terrain that encompasses San Diego County, with emphasis on the mountainous terrain of East County. Since border operations are conducted in remote areas, injuries encountered there require the team to not only respond rapidly but to also provide the equipment necessary to evacuate a patient. Team members are trained in various areas of search and rescue which gives the unit the ability to provide the best medical assistance necessary to stabilize patients and transport them to an area accessible to paramedics, helicopter, and other advanced emergency medical services.The first and primary goal of the team is to get BORSTAR rescue personnel face-to-face with the patient as fast as possible, whether it's an agent, undocumented immigrant, or civilian. To support this goal we have developed several options that assist us. Foxtrot's UH-1 "Huey" is one example of the assets that can insert rescue teams quickly.Secondly, team members provide the best medical care possible given the environment. The importance of this is not only dealing with a patient in a remote area, but also being able to maintain that patient medically for a possible evacuation time of 8 to 15 hours.The BORSTAR Team is divided into 5 different specialties crucial to the search and rescue mission. Those specialties are Technical Rescue, Medical, Navigation, Communications and Air Operations. Within each specialty, members are responsible for research and development, operational procedures, a comprehensive student instruction, and maintenance of their equipment.Horse Patrol
The modern day San Diego Sector Horse Patrol was established in the spring of 1979. The unit consists of 3 Supervisory Border Patrol Agents and 24 Border Patrol Agents. Unit members are drawn from throughout the San Diego Sector area of operation.Prospective applicants go through a 2-phase selection process. First, an oral interview is conducted by the unit supervisors. This is followed by a riding skills test conducted by current Horse Patrol agents. The selected candidates then attend an intensive 8-week training academy administered I by unit training officers. The training staff consists of seasoned Horse Patrol Agents who have completed the Basic and Instructor Courses at the Geiser Equine Mounted Police School. The new agents are trained in horsemanship, anatomy, veterinary care, and trailering. Later, advanced training in handcuffing techniques, arrest procedures, formation riding and riot control is taught. All agents attend the Geiser Mounted Police School's Basic Course after graduating from the Border Patrol 8-week in-house training academy.The primary mission of the Horse Patrol is to provide support to other Border Patrol agents by patrolling the most remote areas of the Sector that are inaccessible to vehicles. Agents typically spend about 6 hours a day in the saddle with the remainder of the shift spent tending to the health and care of their horse and tack maintenance. Each year the Sector Horse Patrol participates in a variety of public functions. Unit members spread the Anti-Drug message during presentations at area schools and also participate in local community parades in the Equestrian Division.Marine Interdiction Unit
The San Diego Sector Marine Interdiction Unit (MIU) began training in 1992. Its primary mission was the deterrence and apprehension of illegal immigrants and drug traffic in the waters of the Tijuana River and the San Diego coast. It consisted of four agents and three Zodiac boats. Working on the boat unit was not an easy task, as much of the work was done in the late evening, in the dark of night. Many of the illegal entrants placed themselves in dangerous conditions and were being rescued from the hazards of the water. The Unit's courage exemplified San Diego Sector's commitment to professionalism. They continually respond to assist under difficult conditions.With outstanding training from the Military, the MIU excels in its duties. As part of Operation Gatekeeper, the MIU was able to prevent and deter the use of the Tijuana River and the coastal waters for illegal activity. The seizure of numerous illegal immigrants, currency, vehicles, firearms, scores of criminal aliens, and tons of narcotics, represents the MIU's dedication to its mission. Today, despite the constant hazardous conditions, the MIU continues to succeed with its mission. Its fleet consists of three rigid hull inflatable boats. As the boat traffic on the water continues to increase, the importance of their mission becomes more paramount. Persistent training and vigilance on the waters are proving successful. The unit operates closely with the U.S. Coast Guard in securing and protecting the waters of the San Diego coast. Many of its highly trained members are assisting other federal agencies. Working with other agencies, the unit maintains its expertise and is highly regarded within the law enforcement community.Regional Emergency and Crisis Team (REACT)
REACT is the tactical unit of the San Diego Sector. Presently, the team has 30 members. REACT was formed in 1984 to accommodate needs of the San Diego Sector in special enforcement areas. These areas include Civil Disturbance, High Risk Warrant Service, Deterring Border Violence, VIP Protection, Anti-Narcotics Operations, Search and Rescue and Station/Area Augmentation.All members are required to pass a physical training test, oral interview, and a two-week REACT Basic Training Academy to be a member of the Unit. After the Basic Academy, all members are required to attend an outside agency SWAT Academy in order to fulfill probationary requirements.All active REACT members are required to maintain the basic REACT PT, Firearms, and Specialties qualifications and tested in the areas every quarter.Team members are also trained in the static tower and helicopter rappelling, chemical agent dispersal, precision shooting, special weapons and Emergency Medical Technician.Currently REACT is operational in the Campo Station's area of responsibility. REACT has also been tasked with training on the M-4 carbine and conducting training for probationary Agents on Officer Awareness. |
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