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Couple caught trying to smuggle Mexican migrant into Arizona

Posted at 8:56 AM, Mar 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-19 11:57:27-04

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- A couple from the U.S. is facing federal charges for allegedly trying to smuggle a migrant who breached fencing at the Arizona-Mexico border.

U.S. Border Patrol officials say agents using remote video surveillance on Sunday afternoon spotted a group of men cutting the wire mesh fence near the Lukeville Port of Entry.

They saw two men then illegally cross through the breach into Arizona.

One got into a waiting SUV.

Air and ground patrol followed the SUV to a checkpoint on State Route 85 just north of Lukeville.

Agents at the checkpoint found the migrant, a 40-year-old Mexican national, in the backseat.

He was detained and will be processed for immigration violations.

The 36-year-old female driver and a 32-year-old male passenger were arrested on suspicion of human smuggling.