Rescue Beacon Helps Border Patrol Agents Save Lives of Two People

Falfurrias, Texas – CBP U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Falfurrias Station saved the lives of two illegal aliens early Friday morning.

The rescue occurred after two women, who are nationals of Mexico, became lost and in distress on a ranch south of Falfurrias. Fortunately, the pair located and activated a rescue beacon. Agents immediately responded to the area and located the women.

The Border Patrol has six rescue beacons strategically placed on ranches throughout the area in order to increase the likelihood of survival for individuals who fall victim to the harsh terrain or adverse weather. Once activated, the beacons send out a distress signal that allows agents to locate the imperiled individual and provide first aid within minutes.

Although summer has not arrived yet, numerous illegal aliens are falling victim to the rising temperatures. So far in fiscal year 2012, Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector have saved the lives of more than 120 illegal aliens, whose lives were in jeopardy due to a variety of circumstances.

Many illegal aliens smuggled into the United States are unaware of the extreme danger they face in regard to harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, they do not realize that they must often walk for several days with very little, if any, food and water.

“The diligence of our well-trained agents, combined with assets like our rescue beacons, significantly increases our ability to locate distressed individuals and save their lives,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said. “Unscrupulous human smugglers prey upon the desperation of undocumented aliens and often abandon them in remote locations. Border Patrol agents will continue to focus on rescue efforts and aggressively target alien smugglers.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.