Illegal immigration surges in Arizona despite heat wave

Illegal border crossings in one of the hottest, most isolated and dangerous areas of Arizona have increased 134% in recent days. According to a CBS News report, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson sector have seen an average of 1,900 migrants arrive every day, compared to 812 arriving per day in June. 

The Tucson sector covers most of Arizona, from the state line with New Mexico to Yuma County. It includes a large area of the Sonoran Desert, which extends into California. 

According to the Straight Arrow News Media Landscape™ tool, CBS News leans left, while Fox leans right. Here’s how those outlets are covering this issue:  

CBS reported, “Migrants, including families with young children, have been traversing the Arizona desert in large groups — generally an indication of the involvement of smugglers — amid extreme and dangerous temperatures that surpass 110 degrees each day in most areas of the region.”

The CBS report also said large family groups are arriving from around the world, including China, Senegal, Mauritania, Colombia and Venezuela. Those crossings are mainly taking place in the middle of the night when temperatures drop below 90 degrees. 

Fox cited Tucson sector Chief John Modlin who said agents apprehended 10,000 people during the last week of July. That is a 1,000-person increase from the week before. 

Fox also reported on drug apprehensions, a focus of Republican members of Congress when they debate immigration policy. 

Fox said agents at the Nogales Border Patrol station confiscated fentanyl with an $83,000 value, six pounds of meth and three firearms. Fox also said more than 400 illegal migrants were reportedly rescued by Border Patrol agents. 

Both outlets shared warnings from the Border Patrol and local immigrant support groups about how dangerous it is to cross the desert in the summer months. 
According to Customs and Border Protection, agents have performed more than 25,000 search and rescues along the southwest border since October 2022.

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