Three groups apprehended near Morelos Dam in less than two hours
Three groups of illegal immigrants crossed into Yuma County from Mexico Monday between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The crossings happened near the Morelos Dam, an area where Border Patrol agents have reported hundreds of migrants are entering on a weekly basis for months.
Each group News 11 witnessed being apprehended crossed into the U.S. was made up of nearly one dozen people. The alleged illegal border crossers were apprehended by agents near County 9th Street in Yuma.
Barbara Cook and her husband have lived just feet away from the Morelos Dam for about five years and they said even though apprehensions happen in this area daily, they have never questioned their safety.
“They’re not people to be afraid of as far as getting hurt by them. They’re human beings that are looking for a better life, one way or another. But they’re coming in inappropriately over the border like this,” said Barbara Cook, a nearby homeowner.
Border Patrol said it is a highly trafficked area, meaning most who cross are smuggled.
“Due to the fact that the infrastructure in the area isn’t designed to stop pedestrian traffic. A majority of that area has vehicle barriers, which are solely designed for the stopping of vehicles. So they push their product at length though that area,” said Agent Jose Garibay, Yuma Sector border patrol.
Cook explained that typically agents immediately apprehend the border crossers, but there have been cases when immigrants have knocked on her front door.
One she claimed was a gang member.
Cook also detailed a time when she assisted a pregnant woman and a child.
“I was coming home on the levee road. I was coming up 8th Street,” explained Cook. “I could see a woman and a small child standing up [on the levy road]. It had been raining. It was drizzling at the moment. It was cold. She was just looking around like she didn’t know where to go.”
Cook said she ultimately let the pregnant woman and the young child into her home until agents arrived to apprehend them.
