2021 Year in Review: Imperial County perseveres through a challenging year

News 11's Wiley Jawhary looks at the top stories in the Valley for the past year

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - From a fatal crash where 13 undocumented immigrants lost their lives, to high activity along the border, 2021 was an intense year in the imperial valley. 

Being the last county established in the state of California, Imperial County is known for its tenacity to persevere through tough times.

The year saw high activity along the U.S. Mexico border. While the number of apprehensions have been increasing since April 2020, U.S. Border Patrol says the numbers spiked after President Joe Biden took office.

Agent Carlos Pitones with U.S. Border Patrol El Centro Sector said apprehensions increased dramatically.

“We continue to see an increase in apprehensions currently we are at a 33% increase when compared to the same time period last fiscal year,” he said.

And although Border Patrol agents were unable to speak about the politics behind the migrant surge, the severity of the situation became apparent on March 2nd.

Two vehicles drove through a hole cut at the border fence in Calexico. Shortly after, a Holtville highway became the site of a horrific crash.

Authorities say an SUV jam-packed with 25 undocumented immigrants crashed while attempting to illegally cross into the U.S.

13 lives were lost in the human smuggling attempt, but that was just the beginning.

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents say smugglers lowered a group down over the wall, by rope.

U.S. Border Patrol El Centro Sector added these heartless greedy smugglers continue to endanger the lives of undocumented individuals for money. 

"She was stating that her child was still in the hands of the smuggler on the Mexico side, they were holding the baby as she was climbing over the wall to enter the United States," Agent Pitones said.

On May 3, 2021, the Calexico Fire Department helped a man who was stuck in between the border wall while trying to cross from Mexico.

Some saw a light at the end of the tunnel. A mother and son, who reunited for the first time in seven years although the border wall was separating the two of them.

Some will be spending the holidays without their loved ones for the first time. A young mother who was two months pregnant died in a Canal Crash in Heber in August. She left behind her husband and two-year-old son.

Angel Gonzales, the victim's husband said this was unimaginable.

"What took the fire department which is three minutes away, 30 minutes to get here, I just want to know, that’s the only thing that will make me feel comfortable to tell my son when he grows up," he said.

And climate change proving to be relevant this year. The City of Imperial saw its hottest day on June 17. 

The Temperature reached 117 degrees.

With scorching temperatures come higher chances of a fire. One fire in Calipatria claimed 150 acres of land. Luckily no property was damaged. But one daycare in Heber did not have that same luck.

In the month of April, Imperial County families were shocked to learn their favorite daycare center was hit by fire. Kids were able to evacuate in the nick of time.

The COVID-19 pandemic is still a threat across the Valley. With the Delta Variant making its way to Imperial County, the mask mandate returned as well. Brett Leavitt, a Brawley resident said many find such mandates unwarranted 

"We are not okay with these mandates coming down from Governor Gavin Newsom," she said.

Speaking of Governor Newsom, the California recall effort failed. In 2021, he remains the governor and promises to tackle this pandemic.

But through the good and bad, Valley residents remain strong. Residents across the Valley say they will always persevere through thick and thin.