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INS Fact Sheet Template

June 26, 2000
**INS Border Safety Initiative

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner Doris Meissner first announced the INS Border****Safety Initiative, an aggressive strategy designed to make the border safer for migrants, officers and border residents, in June 1998. The initiative has three elements: prevention, search and rescue and identification. Since that announcement, the U.S. Border Patrol (the uniformed enforcement arm of INS charged with protecting the nation’s borders) has implemented a number of safety measures:
**Prevention — Working with Mexican officials to identify dangerous crossing points along the entire Southwest border and address safety problems.
- INS is monitoring and reporting data on border deaths, analyzing the data and taking steps to address safety problems. For example, in response to the high number of migrant drownings in the All-American Canal in the El Centro area, INS put up warning signs, lighting and increased Border Patrol agent staffing. 
- INS deployed more personnel to hazardous crossing points along the border. Border Patrol agents were deployed to eastern San Diego County; the All-American Canal; the desert regions of Imperial County, California; and the Yuma, Arizona region. These are areas that have been identified as the most hazardous areas, based on historical data of alien deaths. 
- In a coordinated effort, Mexican Consuls have arranged for warning signs to be posted in Mexico much like the warning signs posted by the INS in dangerous areas along the U.S. border. 
- INS expanded and coordinated public service announcements along the border where migrants are located to warn them about the hazards in crossing the border illegally. Efforts included national public service announcements developed in conjunction with the Mexican government and news releases for U.S. and Mexican newspapers, as well as radio and television spots. All nine Southwest border sectors have developed and implemented media campaigns on border safety. Some include messages warning about the risks of dealing with alien smugglers. 
- INS continued its media outreach efforts to Mexico and Central America through telephone press conferences and television broadcasts. For example, in April, national Border Patrol Chief Gus de la Viña held a televised press conference on border safety sponsored by the Department of State with Mexican government officials and media. 
**Search and Rescue— Targeting hazardous areas where migrants may become lost, abandoned or in distress due to the difficult terrain and the willingness of smugglers to lead them into dangerous territory.
- Several Border Patrol sectors have developed local toll-free hotlines for people to call if they believe friends or relatives who recently crossed the border may be in danger so that INS can initiate a search/rescue. INS is working to expand the hotline network.
- Border Patrol vehicles are equipped with extra water, electrolyte drinks and medical trauma bags to assist migrants found in the desert suffering from dehydration and/or hypothermia. 
- Many Border Patrol agents have specialized training in water rescue techniques and all Border Patrol vehicles that patrol along or near canals and rivers are equipped with water rescue equipment. 
- INS is working to ensure that all Border Patrol agents have advanced first-aid training. Many Border Patrol agents have completed optional Emergency Medical Technician training to better enable them to aid an injured migrant. In addition, INS is setting up refresher training in CPR and emergency first aid, subjects taught to all Border Patrol Agents during basic training. 
**Identification— Establishing procedures and resources to help officials to both identify migrants who die attempting to cross the border and contact surviving family members. Of the 114 deaths reported through the first eight months of FY 2000, 39 percent of the victims were unidentified.
- INS border officials are working with Mexican Consuls and local medical examiners to share information to identify deceased individuals. 
- INS is working closely with the Texas Association of Counties to provide assistance when they encounter deceased individuals by helping to preserve the crime scene. 

— INS —
Last Modified 02/20/2003********