ICE, federales involved in cross-border operation near Lukeville

Posted Jan 29, 2016, 12:44 pm
Paul IngramTucsonSentinel.com

Agents with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement are involved in a cross-border operation near Lukeville, Arizona.

An official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the operation, but said that ICE was leading the cross-border effort that includes Blackhawk helicopters flown by Mexican Federal Police.

An ICE spokeswoman, Gillian Christensen, said in an email that she would "circle back" with a response when she was at liberty to do so.

KVOA reporter Michel Marizco said that at 7 a.m. Mexican federal police helicopters launched from Arizona into the border city of Sonoyta, Sonora, just across the line from Lukeville. Choppers have made several trips back and forth across the border throughout the day.

The Lukeville crossing, about 110 miles southwest of Tucson, is astride the road to Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point.

About 50 agents from CBP, ICE and the Arizona Department of Public Safety were gathered at a staging area in Lukeville, Marizco said.

Despite the law enforcement activity, the border crossing remained open Friday.

Check back for updates.

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