An Arizona man has been arrested and charged with human smuggling after 17 illegal immigrants were found "stashed" inside abandoned vehicles in "sweltering heat," authorities said on Saturday.
A total of 17 illegal aliens from Mexico, including one minor, were crammed inside two vehicles at a property in Nogales, Arizona.
Border Patrol agents on June 4 discovered some of the illegal immigrants confined to a small sedan, while others were crammed inside a recreational vehicle (RV) at the property.
Temperatures inside the vehicles were quickly rising and they had limited space and ventilation, according to authorities. They also lacked access to running water.
An Arizona man was arrested at the scene. The suspect, a U.S. citizen, tried to flee the area when authorities arrived but was quickly apprehended.
The suspect will appear in federal court, according to authorities.
The illegal immigrants discovered in the vehicles were not injured and in good health, authorities said. They were taken into custody and will be processed for removal proceedings in accordance with U.S. immigration law, according to Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean McGoffin.
Although no one was injured, the incident highlights the dangers that illegal immigrants face in the hands of human smugglers, McGoffin said.
Nogales Border Patrol agents, Nogales Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations worked together to uncover the human smuggling operation.
"The terrain along the border is extreme, the summer heat is severe, and the miles of desert aliens must hike after crossing the border in many areas are unforgiving," Border Patrol warned. "People who made the decision to make the dangerous journey into this territory have died of dehydration, starvation, and heat stroke despite CBP’s best efforts to locate them."
In states such as Arizona and Texas, the desert heat during this time of year can be intense, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and above.
The nation's deadliest smuggling attempt occurred in June 2022, when 53 migrants were found dead in the back of a tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas. The illegal immigrants were from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico and paid human smugglers between $12,000 and $15,000 each to be transported across the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues its nationwide efforts against illegal immigration, conducting targeted enforcement operations across the country. Since taking office, President Donals Trump has issued several executive actions and initiatives to curb illegal entry into the United States.