As Arizona's heat ramps up, so do rescues in the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector

As summer approaches, agents in the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector are preparing for increased heat relief efforts for migrants.

The U.S.-Mexico border is one of the deadliest migration paths in the world, with hundreds of people dying each year – most from heat-related causes.

“When it comes to saving life, preservation of life is our priority,” said Jesus Vasavilbaso, a Border Patrol spokesman for the Tucson Sector. “It doesn’t matter if it is an illegal alien or a U.S. citizen.”

The Tucson Sector’s agents train year-round to prepare for the summer rescues.

“Every summer we’ve ramped up our staffing and we try to do all of our training in the wintertime,” Vasavilbaso said. “So that way we have the most people available to do those rescues.”

During the summer, the sector employs more agents to handle the increased calls. The Border Patrol also helps counties with heat rescues.

“Most of these counties, they don’t have the staffing, they don’t have the medical personnel and they know that we are on those areas,” Vasavilbaso said.

Vasavilbaso said the terrain and the heat creates a dangerous combination.

“One minute you can be fine, but then from one minute to another things can go very bad, very quick,” Vasavilbaso said.