TUCSON, Ariz. – In a bi-national effort between the United States Border Patrol and officials from Sonora, Mexico, Border Patrol agents rescued a group of 16 migrants lost in the desert near Ajo Monday.
Early morning, the Ajo Border Patrol Station received a call from Mexican officials at C-5, the Mexican equivalent of a 911 dispatch. Mexican officials stated they received a call from a group of 16 migrants who reported being lost while trying to illegally cross into the United States. Officials were able to three-way connect the call to Border Patrol agents, who spoke directly to the caller.
The caller described the area where the group was located, and once the general location was established, CBP launched air assets while Border Patrol agents searched on the ground. While searching for the original caller and his group, agents come across two other groups in the same area, arresting a total of 48 illegal border crossers.
Shortly after the arrest of the two groups, a CBP helicopter crew spotted another group of 16, which matched the caller’s description. Border Patrol agents rescued the group and identified the caller. No one in the group required medical attention.
All of the 64 arrested subjects will be processed for immigration violations.
