Three migrants die trying to cross into California during stormy weather
(FOX 5/KUSI) — Three people died in two separate attempts to cross from Mexico into California during a period of stormy weather in mid-March, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The agency said the alleged border crossings happened on March 14, during a time of rainy and snowy weather across San Diego and Imperial counties.
According to CBP, Border Patrol agents responded to a first call for help around 6 p.m. near the Cuchama Truck Trail in the Otay Mountain Wilderness.
Agents found a woman who had made the call, along with another woman who had since died. The woman who made the call told agents that the two had crossed around five miles west of the Tecate Port of Entry.
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At about 7:20 p.m., other Border Patrol agents responded to another part of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area, where three people called to report that they were lost, had symptoms from the cold temperature, difficulty breathing, and no food or water.
When agents arrived, they found a 16-year-old minor alive and two men who had died. The teen was identified as the daughter of one of the men, and she was taken to a hospital.
The woman who called in the first instance and the teen were eventually taken to Border Patrol facilities to be processed for removal from the country, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Office responded to recover the bodies of those who died.
CBP said that the following night, around 11 p.m., agents found a man with an ankle injury in the Otay Mountains. The man rejected medical help, but was given food and water, and later taken to a Border Patrol station to be processed.
In a statement, the San Diego Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker said, 'Our message for anyone who might attempt an illegal crossing into the U.S. is simple: Don't do it. The Otay Mountain wilderness is unpredictable and unforgiving. Extreme conditions and harsh terrain can lead to injuries and death to you or your loved ones, so don't break the law and avoid the risk.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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