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Illegals rescued in desert
19/07/2006 18:52 - (SA)
Tonopah - Authorities were searching a desert area about 80km west of Phoenix again early on Wednesday after nearly 90 illegal immigrants were found a day earlier - many dehydrated and exhausted from searing temperatures.
Seven immigrants and three sheriff's deputies were taken to hospitals for treatment, said Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Officers used a helicopter, dog units and all-terrain vehicles and conducted foot patrols to search for others believed to be in the area, officials said.
"We know they're still out there, because there's sounds in the brush," said Paul Chagolla, a spokesperson for the sheriff's department.
"We can hear them. They've hunkered down."
The rescued immigrants told authorities that three people had died in the desert, but authorities were still searching for bodies late on Tuesday and couldn't confirm that, said Chagolla.
Arpaio, whose office made the discovery, said investigators suspect that the immigrants were left in the location until smugglers could arrange transportation for them to be taken elsewhere.
"They are stashing them out there," Arpaio said.
Authorities gave water to the immigrants, who were being turned over to federal immigration authorities, Arpaio said.
Siemens said some of the immigrants said they had not had water since Sunday and were desperate. "They were bombarding us for water. We passed out water bottles and it was a frenzy," he said.
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