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Large Groups of Central American Family Units Continue To Cross Near Ajo, AZ

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs - Visual Communications Division

Jan. 14, 2019 | 0:45

TUCSON, Ariz. – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ajo Station encountered a group of 85 Central Americans after they illegally entered the country west of Lukeville early Monday morning.

Agents patrolling several miles west of the Lukeville Port-of-Entry encountered the group, who defeated the crude vehicle barrier fencing on foot. The group, consisting primarily of family units, was composed of Guatemalan and Honduran nationals, and included four unaccompanied juveniles traveling alone.

All persons within the group were screened by trained DHS medical staff. Two juveniles displaying flu like symptoms were sent to a local hospital for treatment while the remaining group members, found in good health, were transported to the Ajo Border Patrol Station for immigration processing.

In fiscal year 2018, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents arrested 52,172 persons, which marked a significance increase over fiscal year 2017, when agents recorded 38,697 arrests. Many of the arrested persons originated from a massive Central American influx through the Ajo corridor.