Yuma Sector’s Chief Patrol Agent Chief Chris Clem told the most remarkable story in a Facebook post this week about two young women from Yuma on their way to a bachelorette party in Phoenix helped Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents thwart a human smuggling attempt.
According to Chief Clem, the bust happened on November 5, as the pair was heading east on Interstate 8. Near mile marker 46, they saw two vehicles pulled over ahead of them.
“We saw a truck and an SUV,” stated one of the women. “They were pulled over on the side of the highway. There were about 20 people waiting on the side of the road, and they just loaded in.”
The vehicles quickly drove onto the highway and headed the same direction the women were traveling, according to the women.
The quick-thinking ladies immediately called Yuma Sector Border Patrol to report what they saw. Because the smugglers were driving ahead of them, the young ladies were able to follow at a safe distance and provide occasional updates over the phone as to the location of the two smuggling vehicles.
“I was nervous,” one of the women said. “I could see every now and then an elbow or some other body part stick up from the bed of the truck. I felt safer because I was in a car and could drive away, but I don’t know what I would do if I had to deal with that many people on my own. I don’t know how you (Border Patrol agents) do that day in and day out.”
When asked why they helped despite feeling nervous the woman said, “I grew up in Yuma my whole life and know a lot about the challenges of illegal immigration. I just think with everything going on right now, you just don’t know who or what is coming in. I just thought I could do my part to help.”
Border Patrol agents from Yuma Sector and Tucson Sector were able to locate the vehicles and apprehend 17 Mexican migrants who illegally entered the United States. The migrants and vehicles were taken to the Ajo Border Patrol Station for processing.
The young women continued their trip to Phoenix to celebrate their friend’s upcoming nuptials.
One of the women said, “We were excited to tell our friends at the party. We told the story all day Friday. We said, ‘Guys, we helped America.’”