(The Associated Press circulated the following article on June 16.)
DEMING, N.M. — U.S. Border Patrol agents have rescued more than a dozen illegal immigrants from a hot railroad car in southwestern New Mexico.
A citizen called authorities Wednesday afternoon after spotting a small group of immigrants walking east on Interstate 10 toward Deming. As agents responded, they spotted several more people near a train.
Agents apprehended the group outside the train, but noticed a container car that was locked from the outside. They opened it and discovered 15 additional illegal immigrants.
None of the people needed immediate medical attention, despite having no water, the Border Patrol said.
Border Patrol agents believe the migrants were placed in the train car by a smuggler. The migrants said they were en route to Arizona, where they were to be separated and taken to various destinations around the country.
All were believed to be from Mexico and were being taken back there.
So far this fiscal year, agents in the El Paso, Texas, Border Patrol sector have rescued 281 immigrants from train cars, vehicles and other areas.