Justin De La Torre, Border Patrol Chief of the Yuma Sector, announced that Wellton Station agents rescued three migrants abandoned in the desert by an individual now facing felony smuggling charges. The statement was made on X.
“A smuggler who guided three illegal aliens through the desert and nearly to their deaths over the weekend will face felony smuggling charges under 8 USC 1324, with enhancements for endangerment of life,” said De La Torre. “Luckily, Wellton Station agents detected and located them before their situation became deadly.”
In recent weeks, smugglers have left migrants stranded in Arizona’s desert during extreme heat, resulting in multiple deaths and rescues near Ajo and Three Points. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), transnational criminal organizations routinely abandon people in remote areas without water or guidance, exposing them to lethal conditions. These incidents highlight the deadly risks associated with smuggling routes during summer.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, prosecutors charged 172 individuals with immigration-related offenses in the week ending August 8, 2025. This includes 18 cases against 22 defendants for human smuggling under 8 U.S.C. §1324. These filings demonstrate the consistent use of smuggling statutes in Arizona federal courts to deter criminal networks.
CBP reports indicate a rise in migrant rescues related to heat emergencies as temperatures increase across the Sonoran Desert. On July 1, 2025, officials warned that every summer agents encounter dehydration, heat stroke, and fatalities, urging migrants to use rescue beacons and call 911 in emergencies. This pattern underscores the health dangers of unlawful crossings.
De La Torre serves as Chief Patrol Agent of the Yuma Sector, a position he assumed in 2025 after serving as Deputy Chief in Tucson. He began his Border Patrol career nearly 25 years ago in the San Diego Sector and has since held leadership roles across multiple regions. His current priorities include adapting enforcement strategies to shifting migrant flows.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with safeguarding the nation’s borders and preventing illegal entry. Since its establishment in 1924, CBP has operated across 328 ports of entry, protecting 7,000 miles of land borders and 95,000 miles of maritime borders.
