26 June 2000
(INS seeks to educate migrants on dangers of illegal border crossings) (830) Immigration agents stationed along the southwestern U.S. border will receive additional training in emergency life-saving techniques, including water-rescue programs for agents who patrol along rivers and canals, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) announced June 26. The new training builds on the 2-year-old U.S. Border Safety Initiative, which seeks to educate migrants on the dangers of illegal border crossings and to ensure the safety of those who disregard the warnings. Following is the text of the INS announcement: (begin text) June 26, 2000 INS Intensifies Life-Saving Measures Along the Southwest Border WASHINGTON -- Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner Doris Meissner and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gustavo De La Vina today announced plans to intensify safety efforts to reduce injuries and prevent fatalities along the Southwest border. The new measures are designed to ensure that all Border Patrol agents on the Southwest border have appropriate safety training. They include the development of swift-water rescue training programs in sectors where agents patrol along rivers and canals. "Protecting our borders includes the obligation to protect lives. Since its launch two years ago, the Border Safety Initiative has greatly strengthened our ability to meet this obligation," said Meissner, noting that more than 2,000 migrants have been rescued from life-threatening situations since the initiative's inception in June 1998. "We must continue to build and redouble safety efforts because just one death is one too many." The Border Safety Initiative, developed in close cooperation with Mexican officials, is designed to educate migrants about the risks and dangers of crossing the border illegally and to assist those who do not heed the warnings. It has three elements: prevention, search-and-rescue and identification. The Initiative draws on longstanding public safety measures practiced locally by the Border Patrol along the Southwest border. "With this foundation, we have developed an aggressive border-wide safety program," said Chief De La Vina. He added, "Our goal is to further strengthen this program by continuing to heighten training and awareness among all agents, from Brownsville to Imperial Beach, of the dangers migrants face." INS is enhancing the current initiative by focusing on agent training. In addition to specialized training programs for rescues in swift waters, the Border Patrol sectors are also establishing refresher programs in CPR and advanced emergency first aid, subjects taught to all agents during basic training. The Border Safety Initiative is being incorporated into the operational plan of each station on the Southwest border so that safety is incorporated into all operational decisions. In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding with the Mexican Government, INS will participate in joint training exercises with their Mexican counterparts in order to keep agents on both sides of the border prepared and trained in public safety measures. INS and the Mexican Government will continue to share critical information and where appropriate, equipment that will allow both governments to increase public safety along the border. Border Patrol sectors are continuing their outreach efforts to warn migrants of the dangers of crossing the border illegally through local public service announcements that are aired in the border region in both the United States and Mexico. Posters that warn would-be crossers about the dangers of putting their lives into the hands of smugglers are being placed in highly visible areas in INS facilities in the hopes that the message will reach migrants who may be considering using a smuggler to bring family members across the border illegally. "Intensifying our focus on public safety is critical, especially as we move into the summer months when the dangers associated with illegal crossings rise with the temperature," Chief De La Vina said. These initiatives build on actions INS has already taken to increase the safety of the border region. As part of the Border Safety Initiative, INS has: -- Developed and implemented a comprehensive methodology for tracking migrant deaths and rescues; -- Mapped dangerous crossing points and developed reports outlining where deaths and injuries occur; -- Deployed technology and personnel to cover especially hazardous areas; -- Worked with Mexican officials to place warning signs at major transportation areas and especially dangerous crossing points; -- Expanded the coordination of public information efforts with U.S. and Mexican media outlets to warn would-be crossers about dangerous crossing points; -- Developed formal agreement with Mexican officials on the schedules for returns of migrants to Mexico with special provisions for children and women; -- Equipped all vehicles with extra water and coolers; -- Developed toll-free numbers in the United States for anyone to call INS if they see migrants who may be in danger and in need of rescue; and -- Worked with Mexican consuls, local medical examiners and INS officials to establish border-wide procedures to identify the deceased. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)