Phoenix – After rescuing 90 undocumented migrants suffering from dehydration in the desert, Arizona authorities on Wednesday were seeking others who might be lost in the region, the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced.
Most of the immigrants detained Tuesday in the desert some 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Phoenix were showing symptoms of dehydration and exhaustion due to the scorching temperatures in the area, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Paul Chagolla.
The migrants were found after customs agents stopped to investigate an apparently abandoned automobile.
Upon approaching the vehicle, they noticed the presence of dozens of people in the area, many of whom were running away into the desert, while others came up to the agents to turn themselves in voluntarily.
The agents immediately notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and began a rescue operation, Chagolla said.
The government agents, with the support of a helicopter, over the next several hours combed the area searching for what they thought was a group of more than 100 undocumented migrants.
The detainees said that some of their companions with whom they were crossing the inhospitable terrain had died in the desert, but authorities have not yet found those bodies.
Seven of the migrants and three government agents had to be hospitalized.
The 73-year-old Arpaio said that the people rescued on Tuesday will not be charged with any infractions under Arizona’s new “coyote” law to stop immigrant-smuggling because they were not surprised while being conducted through the desert by people traffickers. EFE
