Desert rescue beacons let immigrants call for help in remote deserts near border with Mexico

PHOENIX – U.S. Border Patrol officials plan to show off the agency's latest technology in rescue towers that are placed in remote desert regions across the Southwest.

The beacons are along routes commonly traveled by immigrants trying to cross into the U.S. illegally from Mexico. If people find themselves in a dangerous predicament, they can press a button on the tower that alerts authorities of their location.

Border Patrol officers trained in rescue and medical operations respond.

Whether immigrants will want to broadcast their location to the agency in charge of capturing them remains to be seen.

The agency plans a media event for Wednesday morning in the desert south of Tucson to highlight the dangers of crossing rugged, remote terrain in sometimes triple-digit heat while also facing potential abuse by smugglers.