25 Suspected Illegal Immigrants Rescued

U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued 25 suspected illegal immigrants Thursday and Friday in the desert of Imperial County after the group was abandoned by its paid smuggler, authorities said.

The series of rescues took place south of Salton City, not far from the spot where 11 immigrants died in the searing heat last summer. The latest incidents occurred as U.S. officials were rolling out public service announcements aimed at discouraging immigrants from crossing illegally in hazardous back country areas.

Several of the immigrants suffered dehydration and heat exhaustion in the desert, where temperatures topped 100 degrees Friday. “Some of them were in very bad shape,” said Henry Rolon, spokesman for the Border Patrol’s El Centro office.

Nine people were found two miles south of California 78 on Thursday after a member of the group made his way to the highway. All were taken to hospitals in El Centro and Brawley. After an overnight search, rescuers found 16 people Friday in two spots south of the highway. The search was suspended late Friday.

The immigrants got lost after the van in which they were being smuggled broke down and caught fire, officials said. The smuggler leading the immigrants north allegedly abandoned them.