KRGV.com

NEAR FALFURRIAS - Under the hot South Texas sun, time is of the essence. Border Patrol agent Joe Puebla knows he has only so long to catch illegal immigrants moving through the brush before they get away or die.

Puebla is one of only 300 agents on the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Unit (BORSTAR). He volunteered for the assignment.

Along with having nursing skills, Puebla worked to get his mind and body in top shape. He can lift his body weight, run an 8-minute mile, and swim the length of several football fields. But none of that will save him from heat.

"People have the misconception that they see a lot of greenery, a lot of brush shade, they don't think they can succumb to the elements," he explained.

At 7:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents got 15 hits on a remote sensor. Law enforcement actions began immediately. Puebla grabbed his 30 pounds of gear, and the elite agents quickly headed to the scene.

Illegal immigrants brave the elements to get by the law. Puebla follows the trail left behind. His job is to treat the injured. With him, he carries tactical medical gear. It'll just be a matter of hours before the Texas heat will threaten everyone in the search effort.

"I'm looking for any kind of disturbance on the ground... or on the brush itself," explained the agent.

Agents have access to ranches all along the Falfurrias checkpoint. Puebla opened and closed gates as his search continued.
"You can see on this particular area that something slid through here... It's very obvious," he said.

Puebla noted this was near a windmill. "People when they see windmills, it means water is there," he explained.

But the water isn't safe. A lot of micro-organisms call the water home.

"They may drink the water and get hydrated. But a few hours or a day later, they may get diarrhea, vomiting. And they can get dehydrated faster or make the situation even worse," said Puebla.

At another watering hole, the agent noticed someone used a log to check for water. He said if someone drank the water, he or she may get sick soon.

Puebla said his training prepared him for the worst. "You have to be physically and psychologically ready to encounter these kinds of situations," he told us.

The agent drank some water from his CamelBak and continued the search. It was almost noon.

Puebla's teammate is Mario Arreola. He's a BORSTAR K-9 agent. He's tracking the same group Puebla is from another angle. Arreola and his K-9, Chico, usually find the dead.

"My dog is certified in search and rescue and human remains detection... cadaver recover, recoveries," the agent explained. "He's not trained in narcotic detection."

Hours into the search, the agents haven't seen anyone yet. The sun is unforgiving and the temperature is more than 100 degrees.

After seven hours of searching, the agents get a call from another unit, who found a small group traveling through the brush. The group is made up of two men and three women. The women aren't dressed to handle the journey. The men said they've been caught before and knew what to expect. It didn't matter to them.

One of the men said he fainted because he hadn't eaten. The group will get food when they reach the Border Patrol station. Puebla warned the group to eat slowly, when they get food.

The only water the illegal immigrants drank came from ponds along the route. One of the women told Puebla she had diarrhea.

The agent said, "Overall, they're OK."

"You get a lot of satisfaction in helping people in distress... whether it be agents, civilians, or undocumented aliens," he added.

This group's journey is over. They'll be returned to their home countries. For a short time, Puebla's journey is over too. But he'll return to the heat and brush tomorrow, as the search for other illegal immigrants continues.