Agents rescue two people in Jacumba Wilderness

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents rescued two illegal aliens who were abandoned and in distress in the Jacumba Wilderness region on Thursday night, a Customs and Border Protection news release stated.

The incident occurred approximately 7:40 p.m., when El Centro Sector Communications Dispatch was notified by California Highway Patrol Communications of a distress call involving two individuals.

The caller, a 34-year-old female, stated she and her cousin, a 17- year-old male juvenile, were lost and had been abandoned by a larger group they were originally traveling with.

She also stated that her cousin had sprained his ankle along the way.

This information, along with GPS coordinates based on the cell phone tower usage during the call, was relayed to the El Centro Station shift supervisor.

Agents performing their assigned duties in the area responded to the location to begin searching for the pair.

Approximately 8:20 p.m., an Air and Marine Operations helicopter responded to the call and assisted with the search.

The air unit observed an individual shining a light at their aircraft about

8:40 p.m. The light was from the lost individuals.

The air unit used the light to guide agents on the ground to the location of the two individuals. Agents made contact with the pair about five minutes later.

They were evaluated and both appeared to be in relatively good health with no major injuries.

Both of them declined any further medical attention.

Both individuals were determined to be illegal aliens from Mexico. They were taken to the rally point for processing and both were expelled back to Mexico, the news release stated.