By Steve Neavling
Ticklethewire.com
Human smugglers are causing a humanitarian crisis by bringing large groups of Central American migrants into America and then abandoning them, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.
Since Aug. 20, Border Patrol agents made eight discoveries of groups of more than 100 documented immigrants, including children, walking in areas of southwest Arizona, AZCentral.com reports.
The largest group was discovered on Sept. 20, when Yuma-based Border Patrol agents came across 275 adults and children, 20 of whom were taken to the hospital.
“With more family units being smuggled into these areas, agents must divert even greater resources to care and treat those harmed by the arduous journey,” Border Patrol said in a statement.
“Family units who might have previously presented themselves at ports of entry, are being shuttled by human smugglers into areas with limited infrastructure to illegally cross into Arizona,” the UCBP said in a press release issued Friday. “Multiple areas along the Yuma and Ajo corridors are being exploited by criminal organizations.”
