'Border Wars' Nat Geo Channel Series Embeds Viewers Inside Real-World Battles Raging Across Our Borders

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An estimated 10+ million people live in the U.S. illegally. From the controversial border fence to controversial immigration laws, illegal immigration is hotly debated. For those responsible for securing our borders, protecting our nation goes beyond politics, as they intercept daily an illicit flow of narcotics, money and weapons.  The risks have never been higher, with the violent Mexican drug wars a stone's throw from U.S. soil and criminals armed with increasingly sophisticated technology.

Premiering with a sneak preview Sunday, August 29, 2010, 9 p.m. ET/PT before moving to its regular night and time, Wednesdays 9 p.m. ET/PT, on September 1, Border Wars returns for a second season with 16 episodes of real-world pursuits, surveillance, interceptions, busts and rescue missions at some of the busiest and most dangerous border crossing points into the U.S., including in California, Texas and Florida. Ride shotgun with agents patrolling the Rio Grande, just across from the epicenter of violent cartel wars, where heavily armed criminals outnumber agents. See how ground and air units use the latest military-grade technology, including drones, thermal imaging and mobile cameras. And join agents as they raid stash houses to break up smuggling operations, or risk their own lives to save those close to succumbing to harsh weather and terrain. And, go behind-the-scenes as agents secure Super Bowl XLIV against terror threats, while patrolling Miami for human and drug trafficking.

Premiere episodes include:

Border Wars: Death on the Rio Grande

Sunday, August 29, 2010, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

A young man drowns crossing the Rio Grande, and agents must identify him to return his body to his family. Next, agents target a human smuggling operation and raid a safe house. And inspection of a bell pepper shipment finds invasive snails that could destroy thousands of acres of U.S. cropland.

Border Wars: Checkpoint Texas

Wednesday, September 1, 2010, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

An 18-wheeler carrying 1,000+ pounds of concealed marijuana is discovered by a rookie agent and his canine partner. Meanwhile, a group of illegal crossers takes agents on a four-hour chase and it's going to require local ranchers and a thermal imaging camera to catch them.  An Ecuadorian woman and young daughter — injured, dehydrated and famished — are rescued in harsh terrain after being abandoned by smugglers.

Border Wars: Contraband Highway

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

At the border checkpoint in Hidalgo, Texas, a car is found to have hidden firearms.  Members of BORTAC, the tactical unit that specializes in smuggling routes, discover what could be a remote transfer point for illicit goods. The team hopes to close on an active operation — if they can avoid detection by cartel scouts. Officers dismantle a hidden compartment in an SUV, and confiscate $600,000+ of crystal meth.

For more information, visit natgeotv.com/borderwars.

SOURCE National Geographic Channel