TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued two U.S. citizens stranded in remote desert areas of southern Arizona in separate incidents over the weekend. 

On Saturday, Tucson Sector Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents, in collaboration with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a hiker stranded near the Superstition Mountains, east of Phoenix. The hiker reported they had a potentially broken ankle and were unable to walk.  

Aboard Pinal Air 1, the rescue team quickly located the injured hiker. Due to challenging, mountainside terrain, to evaluate the hiker, a BORSTAR agent was lowered to the ground using the helicopter’s hoist. The hiker was then rescued via hoist and taken to a safe landing zone for further evaluation.   

On Sunday, agents assigned to the Sonoita Border Patrol Station responded to a call from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for a lost and injured hiker on the Arizona Trail near Pauline Ridge. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations helicopter located the hiker, but rugged terrain and dense foliage prevented the helicopter from landing, and the rescue was conducted by agents on the ground. 

After reaching his location, agents learned the hiker had been lost for two days. They provided immediate medical aid and transported him to the Sonoita-Elgin Fire Department for further evaluation and treatment.  

“I am incredibly proud of our agents’ swift and professional response to these incidents,” said Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin. “These rescues are a testament to their training, teamwork and unwavering commitment to public safety. Our agents and teams continuously demonstrate their dedication to saving people’s lives.”  

Tucson Sector agents and specialized teams are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of anyone in distress, especially in situations involving challenging and remote conditions. 

Follow the Chief of Tucson Sector on the social media platform X at @USBPChiefTCA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPArizona for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.