The Kinney County EMS is struggling to keep up with increased demand in need as human smuggling cases rise.
Kinney County’s emergency medical services is being pushed to the limit when it comes to human smuggling calls.– Kinney County’s emergency medical services is being pushed to the limit when it comes to human smuggling calls.
Crews that used to work 48-hour shifts are now on the clock for 72 hours and Garcia said that is tied directly to“There is a policy or a rule made by Border Patrol,” Garcia explained. “They won’t accept anyone that is in custody that has not been medically cleared.” EMS responds to nearly every smuggling call involving medical services -- from scratches caused by fences to road rash and serious crashes caused by pursuits.
His worst fear is resources being tied up with a human smuggling case with no one available for a medical emergency in town in Brackettville.There’s a price tag to respond to these calls, and it’s not being paid by the people EMS is treating.