By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
More than 1,000 people accused of illegally crossing into the U.S. have been arrested since mid-October as part of an operation to thwart human smuggling near Dulzura in southern Californian.
More Border Patrol agents and resources were sent to the Otay Mountain area to combat illegal crossings, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
“Smugglers are exploiting the most rugged terrain in the county, and we’re countering with this effort,” said Matthew Dreyer, Border Patrol agent and commander of the new task force.
Because of the treacherous conditions, Border Patrol agents often have to rescue migrants.
“Oftentimes the migrants are not prepared by the smugglers for how difficult the terrain is,” Dreyer said. “Oftentimes they’re left behind when they’re injured, and we’ll have to rescue them.”
