Mexican migrant uses rescue beacon to alert Border Patrol he was in need of help

A migrant in distress was rescued by U.S. Border Patrol agents near the New Mexico Bootheel area after using a rescue beacon recently placed in the area, officials said.

The 51-year-old Mexican national activated the rescue beacon about 10:30 p.m. Monday, U.S. Border Patrol officials said. The rescue beacons are tall, solar-powered structures, officials said.

The rescue beacons allow migrants in distress to press a button to call agents to the area to render aid, officials said.

Agents were able to find the distressed migrant near Hachita, New Mexico, and rescue him. He later was deported back to Mexico, officials said.

Several rescue beacons have been placed throughout West Texas and New Mexico to aid in rescuing migrants stranded in harsh desert conditions, officials said.

“The El Paso Sector Border Patrol utilized a recently deployed rescue beacon in Lordsburg, New Mexico to successfully rescue a distressed individual late Monday evening,” El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez said in a statement. “We continue to invest in innovative technology that assists Border Patrol Agents in preventing the loss of human life."

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The Border Patrol El Paso Sector, which covers West Texas and New Mexico, has rescue beacons in “high-traffic strategic areas where migrants may be in distress due to exposure to the elements in the desert and mountains,” officials said.

The beacons resulted in agents receiving five rescue calls from migrants needing aid in in a 24-hour period between Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said.

“The El Paso Sector Border Patrol continues to proactively collaborate with our non-governmental organizational and third-party partners to support humanitarian efforts,” Chavez said in the statement. “These rescue beacons will help Border Patrol Agents and our law enforcement partners to more quickly facilitate the rescue of missing and endangered migrants resulting in lives saved."

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 915-546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinezEPT on Twitter.