Six migrants taken to hospital after fall from border wall

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Six migrants were transported to a hospital for varying levels of injury after falling from the border wall Thursday afternoon, U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed.

Border Patrol agents first encountered the group of migrants, which included four men and two women who hailed from Colombia, around 12:30 p.m. near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, CBP said. All six were in need of medical assistance.

According to CBP and San Diego Fire-Rescue, agents on scene requested emergency medical services to pick up the migrants and transport them to UC San Diego Medical Center for treatment.

No details were provided about the specific injuries or if any are considered life-threatening.

Injuries sustained from the border wall, both fatal and non-life-threatening, have been steadily climbing along the San Diego sector of the U.S.-Mexico border over the last few years, following the Trump Administration's move to increase sections of its height to 30 feet.

In 2019, prior to this change, UCSD Health reported treating fewer than 60 patients who had fallen from the border wall. However, that number jumped to upwards of 450 in 2021 alone.

This year so far, at least six migrants have died attempting to cross the border by climbing over the barrier, while over a dozen more have been injured.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.