SAN DIEGO — Three individuals attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally lost their lives in two separate incidents on March 14, as reported by the U.S. Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector.
In the first case, Border Patrol agents from the Brown Field station responded to a distress call in the Otay Mountain Wilderness. They found an adult woman who had called for help, along with another woman who had passed away. The survivor stated that they had crossed the border approximately five miles west of the Tecate Port of Entry. Emergency medical services (EMS) were summoned, and after receiving medical clearance, the surviving woman was transported for processing and removal. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office took charge of the investigation and the deceased individual’s extraction.
Shortly after, at 7:20 p.m., Chula Vista Border Patrol agents responded to another distress signal from the same rugged terrain. They found a 16-year-old girl suffering from hypothermia and two deceased men—one of whom was her father. EMS transported the girl to a hospital for treatment before she was taken to a Border Patrol station. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office once again assumed responsibility for investigating and retrieving the deceased.
The following night, at 11:05 p.m., another rescue mission took place when a man stranded in the Otay Mountains with an ankle injury called for help. Assisted by an Army helicopter, Border Patrol agents located him. Though he refused medical treatment, he was provided with food, water, and electrolytes before being transported to a Border Patrol station for processing.
These incidents occurred during a severe storm in San Diego, where temperatures in the mountains dropped close to freezing. The San Diego Border Patrol continues to warn about the extreme dangers of illegal border crossings, which pose life-threatening risks such as dehydration, starvation, heat stroke, and hypothermia.
“Our message is clear: Do not attempt illegal crossings,” emphasized Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker. “The Otay Mountain region is unpredictable and deadly. Breaking the law puts your life and the lives of your loved ones at risk.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remains the nation’s frontline defense, ensuring border security through collaboration, intelligence, and innovation. With over 65,000 personnel, CBP works to facilitate legal travel and trade while protecting America’s borders on land, sea, and air.
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