TUCSON, Ariz. – Ajo Station Border Patrol agents patrolling along the border several miles west of the Lukeville Port of Entry encountered a group of 163 illegal aliens on Saturday morning.
The group was comprised of adults and children, some as young as four months, and are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Agents also identified five adults in the group who had been previously removed from the U.S. Agents medically evaluated all 163 immigrants and determined they were in good health.
After transporting everyone to the Ajo Border Patrol Station, all illegal aliens were processed for immigration violations.
Transnational criminal organizations exploit the vulnerability of foreign nationals with false promises of legal status and encourage dangerous border crossings, which place lives at risk.
The Border Patrol’s mission is to protect U.S. borders between official ports of entry, but agents are equally concerned with the safety of anyone they encounter. Tucson Sector Border Patrol officials continue to publicize warnings about the dangers of entering the U.S. illegally, particularly during the summer months when temperatures can exceed 120 degrees.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. All calls will be answered and remain anonymous.
