Two female migrants, one of whom was pregnant, were rescued last week by Border Patrol agents and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office after they became stranded in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area after crossing illegally into the United States.
The two women, both Mexican, were located sometime after midnight Friday in the wilderness area after Mexican authorities reported a rescue call to Border Patrol agents, Border Patrol said in a release.
The women had become stranded due to “inclement weather” and reported injuries and a lack of food and water.
Border Patrol agents located the women in a remote canyon approximately 6 miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, but dense fog and low clouds did not allow immediate rescue, the agency said.
Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Team agents stayed with the women in an improvised shelter until they were airlifted to safety by a sheriff’s helicopter.
The women were taken to a fire station for medical examination and then transported to a Border Patrol station where they were processed for removal from the U.S.
The rescue occurred during conditions that saw mountain temperatures nearly reach freezing, Border Patrol said.
“The border region can be treacherous, with extreme weather and rugged terrain posing serious dangers,” San Diego Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker said in a statement. “Entering illegally not only breaks the law but also puts lives at risk.”
