A man who attempted to climb over a section of newly constructed border wall between the United States and Mexico had to be rescued by firefighters after smugglers deserted him at the top of the barrier.
Early Tuesday morning, Border Patrol agents in the San Diego region discovered a man stuck on top of a 30-foot-tall portion of border wall in Otay Mesa, California. The man, later identified as a 41-year-old Mexican citizen, was clinging to the top of the wall when first responders arrived on the scene.
Border Patrol agents called in firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and were able to lower him to the ground, according to a Border Patrol spokesman. Border Patrol returned the man to Mexico later that day.
“Abandoned by smugglers & stranded on top of the 30 ft. border wall, this man had to be rescued by firefighters. It’s not worth it. Don’t risk your life. The smugglers lie & only care about money. They say the wall is easy to get over, but it is not,” Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke wrote in a post on Wednesday morning.
Abandoned by smugglers & stranded on top of the 30 ft. border wall, this man had to be rescued by firefighters. It’s not worth it. Don’t risk your life. The smugglers lie & only care about money. They say the wall is easy to get over, but it is not. #BorderPatrol #HonorFirst pic.twitter.com/rk3NbnvGLi
— Chief Patrol Agent Aaron M. Heitke (@USBPChiefSDC) July 8, 2020
This 14-mile strip of steel, see-through barrier was erected between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California, as part of projects undertaken by the Trump administration. The fence, which varies from 18 to 30 feet in height, replaced shorter corrugated steel plates that were installed in 1991. The plates were surplus material from the Vietnam War that had been meant to serve as helicopter landing pads in rice paddies.
The San Diego Sector is unique as a southwest border sector in that it had a double wall for two decades but had still seen smuggling and increased illegal immigration in recent years. People were easily getting over or through both walls, making them a priority for replacement.
The Trump administration has installed more than 220 miles of fence along the southern border and aims to reach 450 miles by December.
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about the incident.
