TUCSON – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Sonoita Station rescued an injured Mexican man found abandoned by smugglers just north of the international border, approximately 20 miles east of Nogales.
An agent was investigating a brushfire near the border when he encountered a 33-year-old Mexican national with an open ankle fracture. A nearby Border Patrol agent trained as an emergency medical technician evaluated the man’s injury and provided first aid while waiting for an air ambulance to arrive.
The man was flown to a Tucson hospital for treatment and will be processed for immigration violations after being cleared by hospital staff.
Border Patrol officials encourage anyone in distress to call 911, or activate a rescue beacon, before becoming a casualty. In the Tucson Sector’s harsh desert environment, Border Patrol security operations often turn into humanitarian operations.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.
~CBP~
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP’s mission includes keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws. Follow us on Twitter @CBPArizona.
