Large group apprehensions of UDAs continue near Ajo

Contributed Photo/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection: More than 160 UDAs were taken into custody overnight near Lukeville. 

Contributed Article/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection

AJO – Agents assigned to the Ajo Border Patrol Station encountered several large groups of Central Americans, totaling more than 240 people in the last 48 hours.

Agents encountered 80 men, women and children on Sunday evening after the group illegally entered the country west of the Lukeville Port of Entry. The group consisted largely of Guatemalan nationals.

Contributed Photo/Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Agents apprehend a group of 80 near Lukeville on Sunday night.

Overnight, Ajo agents encountered two other large groups, one consisting of 113 and another with 49 family unit members from Central America.

All persons within the groups were found to be in good health and were transported to the Ajo Border Patrol Station for processing.

Illicit transnational criminal organizations exploit the vulnerability of foreign nationals with false promises of legal status and encourage dangerous border crossings, placing lives at risk.