Tucson, AZ — In a dramatic display of bravery and coordination, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) aircrews successfully rescued five migrants trapped in the treacherous terrain of the Peloncillo Mountain range over the past weekend.
The first rescue mission unfolded on Friday afternoon when a Tucson Air Branch Black Hawk aircrew responded to a distress call from Douglas Station Horse Patrol Agents. A group of migrants, overwhelmed by heat exhaustion, required immediate assistance. Among the aircrew were three members of the Tucson Sector’s Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) Unit, including a paramedic.
One migrant was found unresponsive and seizing, necessitating the urgent deployment of two AMO Rescue Specialists to clear a landing zone. The critically ill migrant was airlifted to an awaiting air ambulance. Another migrant, suffering from severe heat exhaustion and delirium, was transported to a waiting Douglas Fire crew. The third migrant, unable to walk, was hoisted into the aircraft with the help of an AMO Rescue Specialist and flown to ground medical personnel for further treatment.
On Sunday evening, another call for help brought the Tucson Air Branch aircrew back into action. This time, they navigated the harsh, steep terrain of the Peloncillo Mountain Range near the Arizona-New Mexico border. After securing a landing zone, the team airlifted a distressed individual along with a member of the Douglas Horse Patrol Unit to an awaiting air ambulance. The aircrew returned to transport a second migrant to a ground ambulance. The Horse Patrol Unit member was flown back to his team to guide the remaining seven migrants to transportation for processing.
“Our aircrews are trained and capable of rapidly shifting from operational missions to humanitarian roles,” said Jessie Scruggs, Director of Air and Marine Operations, Tucson Air Branch. “These incidents underscore the vital support our aircrews provide to agents on the ground, especially as the number of distressed migrants continues to rise due to the harsh conditions imposed by callous smugglers.”
Transnational criminal organizations are increasingly abandoning migrants in remote, perilous areas, leading to a surge in rescues by CBP. The agency urges those considering illegal entry into the United States to reconsider, highlighting the life-threatening risks involved.
CBP’s Air and Marine Operations, with around 1,800 federal agents and support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels, plays a crucial role in national security. In Fiscal Year 2023, AMO’s efforts led to significant enforcement actions, including over 1,000 arrests, nearly 90,000 apprehensions of undocumented individuals, and the seizure of substantial quantities of drugs and weapons.–News Desk