November 16, 2018

A Section of the Border Where Illegal Crossings are on the Rise

Arizona 360 visited an area west of Lukeville on the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Border Patrol's Tucson Sector has seen more than a 40 percent increase in the number of apprehensions compared to last year. Agents are arresting about 200 people a day in the sector.

The bulk of that activity is happening in the west desert near Lukeville. Arizona 360 toured the area with agent Daniel Hernandez and learned more about emerging methods used for crossing the border.

The tour also included a visit at the Ajo Border Patrol station where immigrants are processed shortly after they're detained in the desert. No cameras or audio recorders were allowed. Inside, several men were kept in a holding cell together. Families with young children were kept together in separate cells. Hernandez said the agency's goal is to screen each individual and send them to their next destination within 24 hours.

Arizona 360
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
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