U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued a group of 15 illegal aliens and three Americans who had been abandoned by their human smugglers in the New Mexican desert.
The agents assigned to the El Paso Sector located the group of migrants early in the morning on December 22, according to information obtained by Breitbart Texas from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. Human smugglers abandoned the group the night before and left them to fend for themselves in freezing conditions.
The agents from the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station found the six adults and 12 minors after their guides and human smugglers abandoned them. At least one of the minors was a one-year-old. Three members of the group were found to be American citizens while the others admitted to being in the country illegally.
The group told the agents that their coyotes had left them behind and told them to find authorities for aid. Because of the freezing conditions that included rain, sleet, and high winds, agents were concerned about the safety of the group who had been left in the severe elements.
The soaked and wind-chilled migrants, along with their American traveling companions, were transported quickly to the Lordsburg forward operating base where they could be checked for hypothermia and exposure. Emergency medical technicians screened them and determined that none needed further medical attention.
The party was transported to the Lordsburg Border Patrol Station where they were processed and placed into immigration proceedings, officials stated. No further information about the American citizens was provided by the CBP.
“Incidents such as the aforementioned, clearly depict the heroic, humane and untold stories of the fine men and women that make up the United States Border Patrol,” CBP officials wrote in the statement obtained by Breitbart Texas. “Every day, throughout the nation and beyond, Border Patrol Agents change their government issued hats for those of rescuers and humanitarians. Regardless of the unscrupulous and ill regard for human life attitude by smugglers, Border Patrol Agents will 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.”
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.
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