"We're all trained paramedics in order for us to be able to provide medical assistance," stated Agent Jose Ramos, "As you can see we have high angle rescue equipment and we also have diving equipment.  We have a dive team here for rescue and recovery."

"Just about a month ago, we were parked under POE II, the only place we have shade to do a crew swap.  While we were sitting there waiting on the other crew, we heard some noise coming from the Mexican side," said Carl Nagy who drives airboats for the USBP, "We saw two people jump in and usually at those hours there are people swimming in the river, but these two people were yelling for help.  At that time the river was really turbulent so we knew they weren't going to make it.  We went in and you have to be very careful with these boats and need to take the current and wind conditions into consideration.  We got down river from them and they were floating towards us.  My partner threw a throw bag to the mother, it was a mother and a daughter."

Nagy went on to explain the harrowing rescue, the types of rescues that have become common place on this side of the US-Mexico border.

Jim Hasburgh, an Air Interdiction Agent, and his partner Del Rio's Sergio Martinez who operates the supplemental equipment on their helicopter, a magnificent Air Bus AS 350 light reinforcement single engine helicopter which is used for observation, search and rescue, surveillance, for patrols and for the movement of ground agents and sometimes even their canine units.

"If during search and rescue, we have to move someone out or fly them out and fly them somewhere they can go in the back," said the former military man from New York State turned airman.

The Eagle Pass News Gram salutes the BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue) squad for all they do to protect our border and all those who come here on a daily basis.