Border agents rescued a Mexican citizen who crashed into the California border wall while trying to enter the U.S. illegally, authorities said Wednesday.
Agents patrolling at Imperial Beach found the 25-year-old man hanging from a part of the wall that juts out into the Pacific Ocean at about 8:15 p.m., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement. .
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The immigrant tried to scale down the American side of the barrier and got stuck above the waterline. Mexican authorities fired the man, while CPB agents brought the man to safety.
The 25-year-old Mexican citizen noticed a section of the wall protruding into the Pacific Ocean, the agency said.
(US Customs and Border Protection)
According to authorities, he was taken to a hospital and treated for hypothermia and knee pain.
The agency did not immediately say whether the man was left behind by a human trafficker, but warned of the dangers posed by such dealers.
“Let this serve as a serious reminder,” Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said in a statement. “The only motive of a smuggler is profit. If it goes hard, it will leave you hanging literally and figuratively. Our agents will always save lives if possible.”
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The Trump administration announced earlier this month that 70,000 migrants were apprehended on the southwestern border in November, an increase of 64% compared to 2019.
Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan told reporters at the time that the increase, which resulted in an average of 2,300 meetings per day in November, consisted mainly of single adult men from Mexico.
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Morgan added that in recent months there has been an increasing number of families and children without guidance (UACs) from the Northern Triangle countries.
Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.