Tucson Air Branch aircrew rescues migrant on the way to a Search and Rescue demonstration

TUCSON, Ariz.- A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) UH-60 aircrew rescued a man trapped in rugged terrain in the Baboquivari Mountain region on April 30.

The Tucson Air Branch aircrew was en route to a media event to demonstrate Search and Rescue procedures for visiting journalists. During the transit, the aircrew diverted to respond to reports of an undocumented migrant in distress in the remote mountain range.

Air and Marine personnel rescue a migrant stranded in the Baboquivari mountains.

The aircrew hoist extracted the man and transferred him to U.S. Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents for medical assessment and care. Air and Marine Operations crews have rescued 98 people since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2024 to April 25.

"Our aircrews are trained and capable of rapidly shifting from operational missions to humanitarian roles," stated Jose R. Muriente, Deputy Director of Air and Marine Operations, Tucson Air Branch. "We planned to demonstrate how we, and our BORSTAR partners, respond to emergencies. Our combined team ended up saving a person's life on the way to that demonstration."

AMO safeguards our nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO serves as the nation's experts in airborne and maritime law enforcement.

In Fiscal Year 2023, AMO enforcement actions resulted in 1,004 arrests and 89,909 apprehensions of undocumented individuals, as well as the seizure or disruption of 256,883 pounds of cocaine, 2,049 pounds of fentanyl, 4,050 pounds of methamphetamine, 2,200 weapons, and $15.3 million.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation's borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.