Thread: AZ: Border Patrol catches illegal Ecuadorian immigrants

Border Patrol catches illegal Ecuadorian immigrants
FROM STAFF REPORTS

July 26, 2007 - 11:52PM

U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Yuma sector apprehended four illegal immigrants from Ecuador, as well as a Mexican man who allegedly robbed them, after they illegally entered the U.S.

About 3 a.m. Thursday, agents working at County 19th Street and the Colorado River, near Gadsden, apprehended the five people. During initial questioning, all five told agents they were Mexican citizens. They were transported to the Border Patrol's Yuma station where records checks revealed four of the individuals were actually natives of Ecuador, according to a Border Patrol news release.

The four Ecuadorians also told agents they were robbed by the Mexican man who was apprehended with them. They said they were hiding in the brush with two guides waiting to move farther into the U.S. around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, when they were approached by three people. They said the three recognized their guides, and one of them, armed with a gun, told the guides they worked for him and demanded payment for smuggling in his territory, according to the release.

The gunman allegedly robbed the group of 360 Mexican pesos and a watch before instructing one of his companions to take the group to their destination, where he would collect payment, the release said.

The robber was processed and is being presented for prosecution for illegal entry. The four Ecuadorians are also being processed for expedited removal and prosecution, the release said.

Nicole Squibbs can be reached at nsquibbs@yumasun.com or 539-6855.


http://www.yumasun.com/news/patrol_3550 ... order.html

They probably figured if they could convince authorities they were Mexican, they'd just be sent across the border allowing them to try and come across again. Now that they know they're from Ecuador, they'll be sent back there, a much longer journey back to the U.S.

This is good - but it's almost a non-story.

People from SA flow across that border all that time. Are they trying to say this is the first time someone from Ecuador has tried to cross?

Nonsense.

nntrixie wrote:

This is good - but it's almost a non-story.

People from SA flow across that border all that time. Are they trying to say this is the first time someone from Ecuador has tried to cross?

Nonsense.

Perhaps it's an attempt by the media to gain sympathy for the victims of a coyote robbery.

Originally Posted by MW

nntrixie wrote:

This is good - but it's almost a non-story.

People from SA flow across that border all that time. Are they trying to say this is the first time someone from Ecuador has tried to cross?

Nonsense.

Perhaps it's an attempt by the media to gain sympathy for the victims of a coyote robbery.

Maybe, whatever the reason, it is propaganda.