SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The number of migrant rescues in the mountains and high desert east of Tijuana is down.
Alejandro Salinas, coordinator with Mexico’s National Institute of Migration, says the agency’s Grupo Beta, made up of rescuers and law enforcement, has seen a dramatic decrease in calls for help over the last few months.
They typically respond when migrants are in distress, lost, or injured on the Mexico side of the border.
According to Salinas, Grupo Beta personnel continue to make daily patrols in the mountains and through the rocky terrain above the desert floor looking for migrants in need of help.
“We make a lot of patrols in these zones because there are also delinquents who are involved preying on migrants, we’re only trying to prevent problems and provide humanitarian help,” said Salinas.
He stated while they used to respond to one or two calls per day of migrants in need, they’ve only had a few since the start of the year.
