Southern Arizona border agents arrest 3 Mexican citizens near Nogales

PHOENIX — Border Patrol agents in southern Arizona arrested three Mexican citizens near Interstate 19 in Nogales Tuesday night.

Agents based in Nogales attempted to stop a black SUV that they suspected of human smuggling near the border around 7 p.m., according to a Wednesday news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The vehicle pulled into a nearby restaurant’s parking lot and the driver fled, leaving two passengers inside while the car remained in drive.

A Border Patrol agent drove his patrol vehicle in front of the SUV to impede its path, stopping it from rolling toward incoming traffic on I-19.

The 16-year-old driver and the two passengers were later found to be illegally present in the U.S.

The three were transported to the Nogales Border Patrol Station. The agency said the two passengers will be used as witnesses in a human smuggling case against the driver.

“Smuggling organizations don’t care who they put at risk, including aliens, agents and the public,” Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent Sean L. McGoffin said. “Their tactic of recruiting minors to do their dirty work is especially dangerous, and it needs to stop.”

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