San Diego border patrol seeing more migrants who need rescues at the border

OTAY MESA — As desperate migrants increasingly try to cross the U.S. southern border, the San Diego Sector Border Patrol says the number of rescues, deaths and injuries in the region has also shot up.

The agency held a demonstration Thursday aimed at discouraging migrants from taking dangerous risks. It also promoted new rescue beacons for those who become lost or are abandoned by smugglers atop the perilous Otay Mountain.

The beacons, installed in January 2021, allow for undocumented migrants to call for assistance by pushing a red button, which lights up and activates the guidepost, notifying Border Patrol of people in distress. There are four beacons placed in the areas of the region with the roughest terrain.

In the 12 months ending Sept. 30, 2020, San Diego sector Border Patrol agents conducted 45 rescues and encountered 14 deaths in the region. Since Oct. 1, 2020, agents have already conducted 41 rescues and encountered 29 deaths along the 60-mile stretch of southwest border in the San Diego region, according to Scott Garrett, Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent.

“These numbers do not account for the almost daily 911 calls and other calls for assistance from lost migrants after being abandoned by their smugglers,” Garrett added.

Although the exact data for the number of injuries that are reported to Border Patrol were not immediately available, Garrett said injuries are also increasing, as smugglers abandon migrants in dangerous weather conditions or if cannot keep up with the rest of the group.