Lifesaving incidents double for Border Patrol
By Aileen B. Flores / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/05/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


A dramatic increase in lifesaving incidents along the border at El Paso has been reported in the past few months, federal officials said.
Martin Hernandez, Border Patrol spokesman in El Paso, said the Border Patrol rescue team rescued more than 700 people in 251 incidents from October 2007 through May. That was more than twice as many rescues as the team performed in fiscal year 2007, from October 2006 to September 2007, when Hernandez said 119 rescues were conducted.

Hernandez said the rescues have increased in part because of the operation of the irrigation system along the border and because larger groups of immigrants are crossing.

The Border Patrol El Paso Sector's Swift Water Rescue Team was recognized Friday for more than 10 years of lifesaving efforts in the area, which includes El Paso and Hudspeth counties and the New Mexico-Mexico border.

The local rescue team received the 2008 Higgins & Langley Special Commendation Award for outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swift-water and flood rescues, federal officials said.

According to the officials, the team is composed of volunteer Border Patrol agents who participate in the training with a willingness to engage in lifesaving activities.

The swift-water rescue team was formed in 1997 to respond to an increase in water-related emergencies along the Rio Grande and to the increase in the number of undocumented immigrants trying to swim across to gain entry to the United States.



Aileen B. Flores may be reached at aflores@elpasotimes.com; 546-6362.






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