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American Morning
Border Deaths: 14 Illegal Immigrants Dead From Exposure, Heat in Arizona
Aired May 25, 2001 - 10:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And turning now to the Arizona desert and a smuggling operation that led more than a dozen illegal immigrants to their deaths. Mexican officials say they have identified one suspect and they are looking for accomplices. The smugglers could face charges in connection with the deaths of 14 men and teenage boys. They were abandoned in 115 degree heat at the Arizona desert more than 15 miles from the nearest road.
Joining us on the phone now from Yuma, Arizona is the assistant chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, Maurice Moore. Sir, good morning. Thanks for joining us.
MAURICE MOORE, ASSISTANT CHIEF, BORDER PATROL: Good morning.
KAGAN: What can you tell us more about the investigation into what took place with this tragedy?
MOORE: At this point the federal system, the rules for discovery kick in and we can't talk about the ongoing investigation, ma'am.
KAGAN: OK. What at the search? I understand perhaps everybody in this group was not accounted for, that perhaps there were even more people still in the desert?
MOORE: At this hour, ma'am, we're continuing our search of the area to make certain that there are no other persons out there.
KAGAN: There were some people who did survive this, as I understand it, and they're the ones who brought attention to those that perished?
MOORE: Yes, ma'am. We did have 12 survivors, fortunately, out of this terrible tragedy, and they were able to help the Mexican officials as well as our investigators determine what exactly happened.
KAGAN: And what is their status right now? Are they still in the U.S.?
MOORE: Yes, ma'am. They are currently at the hospital receiving treatment.
KAGAN: And what will eventually happen to them? MOORE: We will keep them until our investigation is completed and at that time they'll more than likely be returned, repatriated to Mexico.
KAGAN: So I appreciate that you can't talk about this specific investigation, but I would imagine what is happening with the smuggling operation is just a small picture of a bigger situation that's happening clear across the U.S.-Mexican border.
MOORE: Yes, ma'am. This situation is repeated every day along our southwest border with guides and smugglers attempting to bring persons into the United States.
KAGAN: This also comes to light, and we've heard a lot of stories about these survival kits that the Mexican government has been putting together, controversial to some, saying it's endorsing or encouraging illegal immigration. And yet some of the stuff that was in that survival kit perhaps could have helped these men.
MOORE: I can't comment on that, ma'am. I have no knowledge of what's in those kits.
KAGAN: OK. You don't wish to talk about that. Anything else you can tell us about the situation near Yuma?
MOORE: Not at this time, ma'am, other than the fact that we have a continuing ongoing investigation that's being collaborated between the Yuma County sheriff's office and our investigators' units.
KAGAN: All right, Maurice Moore from the U.S. Border Patrol, thank you for joining us, sir.
MOORE: Thank you.
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