Group of 325 Central Americans apprehended in remote Arizona location

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Ajo Station encountered 325 Central Americans after the group illegally entered the country and surrendered to agents west of Lukeville Thursday morning. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations helicopter, investigating a possible campfire spotted by a surveillance camera, discovered the group amid freezing temperatures. The group illegally entered the country through an area where there is only a vehicle barrier designed to prevent crossings. Group members indicated that buses and trucks dropped them off throughout the night on Mexico’s Federal Highway 2 that parallels the U.S. border less than 50 yards from this area. Once the entire group arrived, they crossed together at 8:00 a.m. to await authorities. The group consisted of individuals and family units from Central America and included nearly 150 juveniles, 32 of whom were unaccompanied.MORE