Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued 15 individuals Tuesday trapped in an open-pit mine in Green Valley, Arizona.
Agents assigned to the Tucson Station were tracking a group of suspected undocumented migrants on Duval Mining Company property when the subjects entered the mine.
Agents risked their own safety and climbed down to the group to prevent them from endangering themselves further. After ensuring no one was injured, the agents realized that loose soil lining the mine’s edge would make it too dangerous for anyone to exit safely.
Tucson Sector’s BORSTAR agents then deployed to the area to conduct an emergency extraction using ropes.
Agents later identified the group to be adult males from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, illegally present in the United States.
Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free.