FLORENCE, Ariz. — A joint operation between the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Border Patrol resulted in the successful rescue of an injured migrant from Arizona’s mountainous desert terrain.
USBP agents in Tucson Sector, with local sheriff’s air support, rescued an injured migrant in Arizona’s rugged mountains. BORSTAR agents provided critical medical care before airlifting the individual to safety. This highlights the harsh journey migrants face and the heroic… pic.twitter.com/zw6Kdhcry8
— Chief Jason Owens (@USBPChief) December 9, 2024
The rescue operation, which took place Tuesday, involved the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit working alongside Border Patrol’s BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue) agents. The migrant, whose identity and specific injuries were not disclosed, received emergency medical care from BORSTAR agents before being airlifted to safety.
“We’re always happy to help our partners at U.S. Border Patrol,” said the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in a social media statement.
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens emphasized the dangers migrants face during desert crossings. “This highlights the harsh journey migrants face and the heroic efforts of our agents,” Owens said.
The rescue underscores the ongoing challenges of border enforcement in Arizona’s difficult terrain, where extreme temperatures and rugged landscapes often put migrants at risk of injury or death.
The current condition of the migrant and further details about the rescue operation were not immediately available.
