SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — The Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station has been named “Station of the Year” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
It’s part of the San Diego Sector, and its area of responsibility is everything west of the San Ysidro Port of Entry, including parts of the Pacific Ocean where agents often apprehend and rescue migrants in the water.
“Where their station is located, it’s some of the most jam-packed areas with urban development between Mexico and the United States in Tijuana,” said Patricia McGurk-Daniel, chief patrol agent for the San Diego Sector. “Their operations go into that water, so they’re responding to jet skis, responding to pangas, swimmers who come in from the Mexican side of the border on the beach.”
Led by Patrol Agent in Charge Angel Munguia, about 300 agents work out of the Imperial Beach Station.
McGurk-Daniel said the recognition is very well deserved. “Those are pretty good bragging rights, everyone wants to take that mantle, but Imperial Beach got it.”
Said Munguia: “These are men and women that come in and work with a lot of passion and a lot of heart.”
During the fiscal year 2023, Munguia and his agents apprehended 88,000 migrants and responded to 1,000 calls for help, according to the Border Patrol.
“These are men and women that come in and work with a lot of passion and a lot of heart.”
Patrol Agent in Charge Angel Munguia, Imperial Beach Station
One of those rescues involved eight migrants stranded on a small island in the Tijuana River, with waters rushing and rising around them.
Border agents and a San Diego Lifeguard swift-water rescue team pulled the men to safety.
“We were successful in rescuing all eight subjects. Not only that, we were able to identify those responsible for the smuggling, which led to their prosecution,” Munguia said. “I’m specifically proud of the men and women of the Imperial Beach Station, to see their hard work and dedication each and every day, it’s amazing, I’m inspired by them.”