Elite Border Patrol agents trained to rescue immigrants

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Elite Border Patrol agents trained to rescue immigrants

Nearly 2,500 saved so far this year

By Lynn Brezosky
ASSOCIATED PRESS

July 16, 2006

FALFURRIAS, Texas – Border Patrol agent J. Kicklighter admits to being an adrenaline junkie, which may be what it takes to save illegal immigrants lost in the inhospitable terrain of deep South Texas.

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The Border Patrol regularly releases tallies on rescues, which it defines as “any incident where lack of intervention by the Border Patrol would result in death or serious bodily injury.”

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The Border Patrol's Search, Trauma and Rescue team, known as Borstar, was formed in 1998 as apprehended immigrants increasingly told agents about people left in the brush or desert. Today, the unit has 194 agents. Their training regimen includes desert marches, rappelling with body baskets, sleep deprivation and medical training – skills the agents say are essential.

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In May, the body of a 3-year-old boy was found using a faxed image of his mother's shoe print. Unable to keep up with the rest of their group, the two had been left in the Arizona desert. The mother went for help and got picked up by the Border Patrol, who told Borstar of the missing child. Agents tracked her print by flashlight for seven hours before finding the boy's body.

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http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060716/news_1n16border.html