Three Guatemalans trying to enter Arizona illegally through Mexico on Monday dropped three young children from the top of the 18-foot wall down to family members on the U.S. side, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The border agency said a security camera operator watching footage from Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector saw the group of people and a suspected smuggler at the wall near the San Luis Port of Entry. The smuggler helped the adults plus a 10-year-old child over the barrier from the Mexico side.
Once the adults were over the 18-foot barrier, the person from the Mexican side got the two smallest children — a two-year-old and seven-year-old — up to the top then dropped them to the adults below, according to a news release.
Border Patrol was notified of the incident as it was happening and arrived on scene. Once the kids had all made it over the wall, the smuggler ran away.
The group of six surrendered to federal law enforcement. The children were looked over for injuries and one was treated by agents.
CBP has not indicated if it will refer the adults for prosecution because they are part of families, and prosecuting them could force them to be separated from their children.
The part of wall where the incident occurred is among 27 miles in Yuma where CBP plans to replace old barrier with a new one.
