Border Patrol agents rescued a large number of distressed Central American migrants abandoned by smugglers in 108 degree heat on Friday near the Mexican border in Arizona.
The group of 57 illegal aliens hailed from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and included a teenaged pregnant female as well as a one-year-old child:
UPDATED pictures of #USBP Ajo agents render aid to 57 men, women, and children as young as 1 year old found Friday.Record heat may have sealed their fate had it not been for @CBP agents #SavingLives https://t.co/Qx9qLCacmZ pic.twitter.com/94iYPWkj0v
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) June 23, 2018
Someone from within the group called the 9-1-1 center in Sonora, Mexico, and requested assistance after crossing the border illegally. The 9-1-1 center alerted Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents, who immediately responded to the scene, along with agents from CBP Air and Marine Operations.
According to DHS, “agents encountered 21 adults, 36 minors, 17 of which were unaccompanied, to include a one-year-old toddler.”
Although several people in the group “appeared to be dehydrated,” according to the medically trained agents at the scene, only one person — the teenaged pregnant female — required further medical attention. She was provided intravenous fluids by Border Patrol EMTs for dehydration, and was transported to a local area hospital for further treatment.
The rest of the people were given food and water, and removed from the stifling heat to the Ajo Station for processing:
Ajo #USBP agents and #AMO discover 57 distressed illegal aliens during record heat wave. Men, women and children as young as 1 year old, were brought to the desert by unscrupulous smugglers. Thanks to @CBPArizona, this group was saved from certain injury and possibly death #CBP pic.twitter.com/AwfP06SFfp
— CBP Arizona (@CBPArizona) June 23, 2018
“Regardless of the unscrupulous and ill regard for human life attitude by smugglers, Border Patrol Agents work tirelessly to ensure not only the safety and security of our nation but also the safety of those who they come in contact with. Due to the extreme heat, Tucson Sector Border Patrol officials warn that summer is an especially dangerous time to be stranded in Arizona’s desert. Anyone in need of emergency assistance should call 9-1-1 immediately as dehydration can be deadly if not treated,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection stated.
“Arizona’s desert is a merciless environment for those unprepared for its remote, harsh terrain and unpredictable weather. The Border Patrol advises anyone in distress to call 9-1-1 or activate a rescue beacon as soon as possible,” the agency advised.
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