As this season’s temperatures continue to rise, the Yuma Sector’s Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) team will remain on high-alert to prevent the loss of life, whether community members on a summer outing, or people attempting to illegally enter the United States.
Illegally crossing the border in Yuma Sector could prove fatal any time of year but it is especially dangerous during the summer. It is physically impossible for the average person to carry enough water to survive several days of walking through the desert. In some areas, it can take days to weeks of walking to reach civilization.
To help guard against the loss of life this season, Yuma Sector’s BORSTAR team is focusing their efforts in remote areas of the Sonoran Desert where chances of survival are slim.
“Highly trained BORSTAR agents will be patrolling in high-risk areas known for an increase in the number of people who will need to be rescued,” said Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Porvaznik. “Stepped up enforcement, coupled with search and rescue efforts, are critical to preventing unnecessary loss of human life.”
Technology also plays an important role in the rescue of people stranded in remote areas. Yuma Sector has 24 rescue beacons strategically placed in areas where there is no cell phone reception. The beacons consist of 25-foot, solar-powered towers and are equipped with satellite phones, reflective devices, and a blue strobe light on top that can be seen from more than 8 miles away.
Activating a beacon initiates an immediate response from the Border Patrol, and the nearest agent will go to that location to render aid. Border Patrol officials encourage anyone in distress to call 911, or activate a rescue beacon, before becoming a casualty.
Yuma Sector agents also welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll free. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.