Thread: Border Patrol Partnerships Save Lives in Arizona Desert

C.B.P. News Release

Border Patrol Partnerships Save Lives in Arizona Desert

(Thursday, July 16, 2009)

Tucson, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Tucson sector continue to provide the needed assistance in rescuing individuals from the desolation and extreme heat of the desert. Border Patrol agents with assistance from their counterparts within other law enforcement agencies rescued eleven individuals.

Wednesday, Phoenix Police Department transferred a 911 call to Tucson Sector Border Patrol from a Phoenix resident who explained that his family was lost in the desert. The caller stated his family was in a group of six individuals that were somewhere southwest of Gila Bend, Ariz., and could see a highway. They had been lost and walking without water for days and required medical attention.

The Tucson Sector BORSTAR unit was relayed the information and responded to the area by ground. A National Guard helicopter along with agents assigned to the Wellton and Ajo Border Patrol Stations responded to the area to assist.

Agents searched all through the night until they discovered the group in the early morning hours. Agents were able to locate six individuals. Four of the individuals were found in a state of extreme dehydration and two were deceased. BORSTAR Agents immediately provided first aid on the four individuals as other agents coordinated a “Life Flightâ€

While I understand the desire to risk one's life to come here and work, and applaud those saving these people's lives, it shouldn't translate to excusing such wholesale breaking of the law. Or be rewarded with Amnesty of any kind.

We can absolutely be compassionate, and understanding... but still insist on equal application of our laws and the upholding the principles of our Constitution at the same time. Those things are not mutually exclusive.