The incident occurred at approximately 9:20 p.m., 10 miles west of Calexico, when a Border Patrol agent encountered an illegal alien attempting to cross the All American Canal. The 20-year-old man was only half way across the canal when he began to panic and yelled for help as he struggled to stay above water. The agent immediately responded and deployed a rescue throw bag. The man reached the bag before being pulled under from dangerous water currents. Agents pulled the man out of canal to safety.
The man was determined to be Mexican citizen illegally present in the United States. The illegal alien was transported to the El Centro Border Patrol station for processing and further evaluation.
Supervisor Miguel Garcia from the El Centro Sector Public Affairs Office stated, “This incident serves as a reminder that a moving body of water, such as the All American Canal, while appearing calm can be extremely dangerous. Further, this exemplifies the efforts Border Patrol agents undertake to preserve human life in the course of their duties.”
