see also: in August 2004:   Stowaway Found in Crate Aboard Cargo Flight From Bahamas   DHS SEVIS Program Ramps Up For Fall Semester   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Vows a Total Commitment to Professionalism   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Achieves Container Security Initiative (CSI) Milestone Of 25 Operational Ports   CBP Border Patrol Interdicts Tractor-Trailer at County Checkpoint   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Announces New Border Patrol Academy   U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces that port of Tanjung Pelepas becomes 25th Container Security Initiative (CSI) port to go operational ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue team (BORSTAR), the premier border search and rescue team and a vital element of the Border Safety Initiative (BSI) had an extremely active 3-day period rescuing undocumented aliens in Yuma and Tucson, Arizona.

“The Border Safety Initiative is about making our shared border with Mexico more secure and safe. Controlling our border is paramount to national security and having control will ensure border safety,” said Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar. “We are working with the Government of Mexico on initiatives such as the Interior Repatriation Program that will reduce migrant deaths by removing the migrant from the vicious cycle of crime, degradation and death perpetuated by the criminal smuggler.”

Yuma, AZ - On August 8, 2004, an undocumented alien in physical distress contacted the local police via the 911 emergency dispatch services via cell phone. He stated that he was 1 of 16 people in distress and near death. The Yuma Sector’s BORSTAR Unit was activated and responded to the location. The caller indicated to agents that an additional 15 people were nearby and, within an hour, BORSTAR agent located the entire group. One person had died at the scene, 10 exhibited signs of extreme heat exhaustion and due to advanced stages of dehydration and the remaining four were transported to a local hospital. The survivors of this group were transported to the BORSTAR Command Center for emergency triage. After receiving emergency first aid at the scene all were dehydrated and did not require any further medical treatment. The next day, one of the 4 migrants transported to the hospital died of heat related causes.

Tucson, AZ – On August 9, 2004, the Tucson Border Patrol Sector Communications Center received a telephone call from an individual claiming that he was part of a group of 22 individuals who were lost in the desert and out of water.

The caller stated that two individuals in the group were incapable of walking. The caller stated that the smuggler and three other individuals had abandoned them. At approximately 10:00 p.m., a CBP Border Patrol agent encountered two people claiming to be part of a group of that just been abandoned in the desert by their smuggler. The BORSTAR Unit was immediately activated. Within the hour, a CBP Border Patrol helicopter located the group utilizing a signal fire started by the migrants. Border Patrol agents arrived on scene and began stabilizing the group by administering emergency first- aid. None of the migrants required hospitalization and were transported to the Casa Grande Border Patrol station for processing.

Tucson, AZ – Yesterday, the Tucson Sector BORSTAR Unit rescued 33 migrants in three separate rescue operations. In the morning, BORSTAR agents rescued a group of 8 migrants all suffering from various stages of dehydration. In the afternoon, BORSTAR agents went back to the same area and encountered another group of 20 migrants suffering from dehydration. One person was in and out of consciousness and suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion. That person was airlifted to a local hospital. The remainder of the group was treated on scene and transported to a local Border Patrol Station. In the evening, BORSTAR agents rescued an additional 13 migrants near a cattle water tank. One of the migrants could not walk and was vomiting due to drinking the contaminated water. He was taken to a local hospital via ambulance.

Prior to the implementation of the Border Safety Initiative and of BORSTAR Units, migrants found in these types of emergent situations would have otherwise perished in the hostile summertime environment of the southwest border of the United States. Temperatures along the Arizona border this week have consistently exceeded 110 degrees.

Since Oct. 1, 2003, CBP Border Patrol agents have rescued over 1,055 migrants along the southwest border.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security, charged with the protection of our nations borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration, and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.