Smuggled immigrants get desert rescue
Associated Press
July 20, 2009, 9:32AM

DESERT CENTER, Calif. — Authorities rescued nine suspected illegal immigrants found wandering in a remote section of the Southern California desert who said they were abandoned by a smuggler.

Border Patrol Supervisory Agent Adrian Corona said Sunday one of the immigrants called 911 and reported that they had been abandoned.

Several law enforcement and fire agencies responded and found the group near Desert Center about 45 miles east of Indio.

Three people who had collapsed in the 110-degree heat were airlifted to hospitals.

Corona says the rest were processed by the Border Patrol, determined to be illegal immigrants and returned to their countries of origin.


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