Norma Jean Gargasz

Border Smuggling

On August 15, 2002, undocumented migrant from Mexico, Robert Perez, is given oxygen by BORSTAR agent, Abel Melendez, after his group that surrendered to Border Patrol agents near Little Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Nation. A 55-year-old man, an uncle to some in the group of ten, died from dehydration and and heat exhaustion about a mile up the road. The smuggler abandoned the group when uncle fell ill. Temperatures exceeded 105 degrees that day. Perez waited with the uncle's body.

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Filename: Desperate Journey-1aa.jpg
Image Size: 1813x1312 / 1.4MB; migrant migrants undocumented immigrant immigrants migration human BORSTAR agent agents border patrol U.S. Border Patrol Mexico Mexican Arizona Little Tucson Tohono O'odham reservation nation death deaths illness heat exhaustion dehydration fatality crossing illegal law laws international
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On August 15, 2002, undocumented migrant from Mexico, Robert Perez, is given oxygen by BORSTAR agent, Abel Melendez, after his group that surrendered to Border Patrol agents near Little Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Nation. A 55-year-old man, an uncle to some in the group of ten, died from dehydration and and heat exhaustion about a mile up the road. The smuggler abandoned the group when uncle fell ill. Temperatures exceeded 105 degrees that day. Perez waited with the uncle's body.