The Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR) is a specialized unit of the United States Border Patrol trained in emergency search and rescue and medical response.[1][2] It primarily assists injured or stranded migrants who enter the United States illegally from Mexico at remote desert locations.
BORSTAR training, 2006BORSTAR diver surveys the bridge of sunken ship Black Bart off the coast of Panama City, Florida.Rappelling on Mount Lemmon, 2011
Officials in the Border Patrol's San Diego Sector asked for permission to start a rescue team to help agents and civilians who needed assistance. BORSTAR was created in 1998 in response to the growing number of migrant deaths along the Mexico–United States border.
In 1999, a BORSTAR training academy opened in Tucson, Arizona, and in 2001, the unit added rescue dogs.[3][4]
In 2007, BORSTAR was placed under the command of the newly formed Special Operations Group (SOG) together with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit BORTAC.[5]
The unit has evolved and has enhanced its capabilities to fulfill the foreign and domestic missions of DHS, CBP, and USBP.
Trainingedit
BORSTAR is composed of volunteer agents from the U.S. Border Patrol. After serving two years, agents may apply to attend the five-week training course. BORSTAR members learn rescue techniques, land navigation, communications, teamwork, tactical medicine, swiftwater rescue, and air operations. They also obtain their basic-level certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Some members receive additional specialized training which may include watercraft rescue, boat operations, cold weather operations, paramedic training, and SCUBA diving.[3]
Scope of operationsedit
In addition to assisting migrants, BORSTAR units have helped hikers, motorists, and other Border Patrol agents in need of rescue.[4] BORSTAR units have responded to FEMA requests for assistance, including Hurricane Katrina rescue operations.[6]
The Border Patrol states that "situations vary in difficulty from simply locating victims and providing them with water to complex rescues requiring agents to rappel into remote canyons to assist victims and extract them by helicopter."[3]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR)" (PDF). United States Customs and Border Protection. March 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
^ ab(PDF). Office of Inspector General (Report). 29 January 2016. OIG-16-34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
^ abcd(PDF). U.S. Customs and Border Protection. May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-26.
^ abcDevantier, Alecia T. (2006). Extraordinary Jobs in Government. Ferguson. ISBN9781438111742.
^"Border Patrol Special Operations Group (SOG)" (PDF). United States Customs and Border Protection. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
^Bonner, Robert C. (Sep 1, 2005). "Commissioner's Message on Hurricane Recovery". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BORSTAR.
January 01, 1970
border, patrol, search, trauma, rescue, unit, borstar, specialized, unit, united, states, border, patrol, trained, emergency, search, rescue, medical, response, primarily, assists, injured, stranded, migrants, enter, united, states, illegally, from, mexico, re. The Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue Unit BORSTAR is a specialized unit of the United States Border Patrol trained in emergency search and rescue and medical response 1 2 It primarily assists injured or stranded migrants who enter the United States illegally from Mexico at remote desert locations Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue UnitActive1998 present 1 CountryUnited StatesAgencyUnited States Border PatrolPart ofSpecial Operations GroupHeadquartersEl Paso TexasAbbreviationBORSTARStructureActive Personnel253 2015 2 The BORSTAR Headquarters is located in El Paso Texas and units are stationed in each southwest Border Patrol sector 3 4 Contents 1 History 2 Training 3 Scope of operations 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp BORSTAR training 2006 nbsp BORSTAR diver surveys the bridge of sunken ship Black Bart off the coast of Panama City Florida nbsp Rappelling on Mount Lemmon 2011 Officials in the Border Patrol s San Diego Sector asked for permission to start a rescue team to help agents and civilians who needed assistance BORSTAR was created in 1998 in response to the growing number of migrant deaths along the Mexico United States border In 1999 a BORSTAR training academy opened in Tucson Arizona and in 2001 the unit added rescue dogs 3 4 In 2007 BORSTAR was placed under the command of the newly formed Special Operations Group SOG together with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit BORTAC 5 The unit has evolved and has enhanced its capabilities to fulfill the foreign and domestic missions of DHS CBP and USBP Training editBORSTAR is composed of volunteer agents from the U S Border Patrol After serving two years agents may apply to attend the five week training course BORSTAR members learn rescue techniques land navigation communications teamwork tactical medicine swiftwater rescue and air operations They also obtain their basic level certification as an Emergency Medical Technician Some members receive additional specialized training which may include watercraft rescue boat operations cold weather operations paramedic training and SCUBA diving 3 Scope of operations editIn addition to assisting migrants BORSTAR units have helped hikers motorists and other Border Patrol agents in need of rescue 4 BORSTAR units have responded to FEMA requests for assistance including Hurricane Katrina rescue operations 6 The Border Patrol states that situations vary in difficulty from simply locating victims and providing them with water to complex rescues requiring agents to rappel into remote canyons to assist victims and extract them by helicopter 3 References edit a b Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue BORSTAR PDF United States Customs and Border Protection March 2014 Retrieved 11 August 2021 a b CBP s Special Operations Group Program Cost and Effectiveness are Unknown PDF Office of Inspector General Report 29 January 2016 OIG 16 34 Archived from the original PDF on 15 November 2020 Retrieved 11 August 2021 a b c d Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue BORSTAR PDF U S Customs and Border Protection May 2009 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 09 26 a b c Devantier Alecia T 2006 Extraordinary Jobs in Government Ferguson ISBN 9781438111742 Border Patrol Special Operations Group SOG PDF United States Customs and Border Protection Retrieved 8 December 2019 Bonner Robert C Sep 1 2005 Commissioner s Message on Hurricane Recovery U S Customs and Border Protection Archived from the original on September 8 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to BORSTAR BORSTAR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue amp oldid 1213910301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
