YUMA, Ariz. – Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a group of 11 Iranian citizens who illegally crossed the border into the United States Monday evening.

At approximately 6 p.m., BP agents encountered the group near San Luis, Arizona, on a bridge near County 21st Street and the Salinity Canal. Agents determined the group had illegally crossed the international border into the U.S. The group was arrested and taken to Yuma Station for processing. The five females and six males are were all from Iran, a Special Interest Country.

Yuma Sector agents regularly encounter people from all over the world, including Special Interest Countries. Agents adjudicate each arrest in accordance with law and policy in order to secure our nation’s borders.

For the last two fiscal years, Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents have led the nation in apprehending illegal crossers from Iran. Yuma Sector agents apprehended eight Iranian nationals in FY2020, compared to just 14 from all other border patrol sectors combined. So far in FY2021, Yuma Sector agents have apprehend 14 nationals from Iran.

The primary mission of the Border Patrol is to prevent nefarious people and devices from entering the United States. Iran is a designated Special Interest Country and the agents of Yuma Sector work diligently to protect our borders for the safety of our nation. Border security is national security.   back...