Agents capture 85 illegal immigrants (Arizona Daily Star)

Agents capture 85 illegal immigrants

By Stephen Ceasar
For the Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.30.2008

U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended illegal immigrants in groups of 44, 29, and 12 over the weekend, reported that one agent was assaulted and say a fugitive wanted in connection with the death of a Border Patrol agent was reportedly sighted in Tucson.

Apprehensions
Agents stopped a Chrysler minivan in Douglas about 4 p.m. Sunday. The driver ran from the vehicle into a house, said Rob Daniels, spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector. After the man was apprehended, agents found seven other illegal immigrants inside the vehicle. A woman who answered the door of the home admitted she was in the country illegally, said Daniels. Agents found a 36 illegal immigrants in the house. All 44 of the illegal immigrants were found to be Mexican citizens.

A dozen Mexican nationals were apprehended Saturday as the driver of a Ford pickup tried to race back into Mexico via the San Miguel gate, Daniels said.

Agents on horse patrol about 9:30 p.m. Saturday intercepted a group of illegal immigrants heading toward a family cemetery near Willcox. Agents approached the group and apprehended 29 people, but 10 got away. Among those caught, 11 were from Mexico, nine were from Guatemala and nine were from El Salvador, Daniels said.

Assault
Agents encountered a group of individuals who seemed to be following a single person in the desert about 3 a.m. Sunday near Nogales, said Daniels. The guide attacked one of the agents who approached the group, striking the agent with his elbow. The 28-year-old man from Nogales, Sonora, had a number of offenses on his criminal record, including DUI and a stolen property charge. He is now facing a charge of assault against a federal agent, Daniels said.

Fugitive
A man wanted in connection with the death of a Border Patrol agent who died after being run over in the desert near Yuma was reportedly spotted in Tucson, Daniels said. Jesus Albino Navarro-Montes, 22, is suspected of running over Yuma Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar on Jan. 19 in California's Imperial County Sand Dunes.
The exact location of the sighting could not be verified Monday by Border Patrol officials.