Border Patrol deters illegal entries along the Colorado River

Along the Colorado River that separates the United States from Mexico, there is no physical border boundary.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection ensure the border area is secure by utilizing The Border Patrol Marine Unit. Those sailing the Colorado River patrol 24 hours per day, according to Jose Garibay, Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

“The boat is used by agents in order to diverse quickly and effectively up and down the Colorado River in order to interdict any individuals looking to cross illegally into the united states,” explained Garibay.

The boat is used as a deterrent that tends to lead those who want to enter the U.S. north and south of the River, according to CBP.

Some of those individuals heading south are physically throwing themselves over the border fence as News 11 has reported for months.

“They just throw rugs over it or blankets and it will shield them from getting cut and they’ll just assist them back over. Now with the consenting wire on the bottom, what we’ve seen from them combating that tactic is they’ll throw a mattress down,” said Agent Vincent J. Dulesky, Yuma Sector Border Patrol.

However, while cruising down the Colorado River we came across a campsite on the Mexican side of the waterway.

While on assignment with @CBPArizona we have come across a possible camp for those looking to cross into the U.S. right off the Colorado River in MX. #immigration #YumaSector pic.twitter.com/4fuEolgEGu

— Ciara Encinas KYMA (@cencinasKYMA) December 5, 2018

“What we usually see, agents that are working out here, is sometimes you’ll see a group, a different group every week. Presumably a staging area for individuals looking to cross into the United States,” said Agent Garibay.

Agents cannot make contact with those individuals unless they enter the country illegally.