YUMA – A pregnant woman and two men falsely claiming to be children, were among 13 illegal aliens arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents U.S. Border Patrol agents working near Yuma, Arizona and Blythe, California in separate events this week.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on Tuesday at approximately 5:50 p.m., Yuma Station agents discovered footprints along the U.S./Mexico International Boundary left by two individuals in the U.S. illegally, a pregnant woman and a man claiming to be a minor.
Agents rendered assistance to the woman, who showed signs of dehydration, while emergency medical services were called in. She was taken by ambulance to the Yuma Regional Medical Center for further care before being released into Border Patrol custody.
The man initially claimed to be a 17-year-old Guatemalan national, but agents discovered he was actually a 24-year-old Mexican national. The man told agents that a human smuggler told him to make the fraudulent claim. The man said the smuggler told him that pretending to be an unaccompanied child from Guatemala would ensure his release into the United Stated by law enforcement.
Both the pregnant woman and man were processed for immigration violations.
Then on Wednesday at approximately 8:40 a.m., Blythe Station agents were notified that nine illegal aliens were traveling through the desert near Blythe, California. A short time later, California Highway Patrol received a 911 call from an individual in the same group reporting he and eight others were stranded without water.
According to CBP, California Highway Patrol (CHP) sent a fixed-wing aircraft out to locate the group. Agents found the group and immediately provided water at the scene. All of the individuals were provided a medical assessment and found to be in good health. All nine were placed into custody and processed for immigration violations.
Later that day at approximately 7:45 p.m., Yuma Station agents located two men west of Avenue B and near County 24th Street. One man was unconscious and apparently suffering from heat exhaustion. The second man, also suffering from heat exhaustion, initially claimed to be a 17-year-old juvenile, but turned out to be a 24-year-old Mexican national. The men transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center by ambulance and treated before released to agents. Both men were processed for immigration violations.
The two 24-year-old men from Mexico in the above incidents were later found to be brothers who were traveling separately.