Tucson Standard

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in the Tucson Sector reported the arrest of three Mexican nationals on March 11 after an attempted escape from authorities in Nogales. The information was released by CBP on March 12.

The incident began around 7 p.m. when agents from the Nogales Station identified a black Chevrolet Trailblazer suspected of human smuggling near the border. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle for an immigration inspection, but the driver did not comply. The Trailblazer entered a parking lot, and while still in drive, the driver fled on foot, leaving two individuals inside. An agent positioned his vehicle to block the Trailblazer from entering I-19 traffic, resulting in a collision with the agent’s passenger door. Another agent pursued and arrested the driver. All three occupants were identified as Mexican citizens illegally present in the U.S., and they were taken to the Nogales Station for processing.

The Nogales Border Patrol Station was established on July 1, 1924, initially staffed with two patrol inspectors responsible for monitoring 27 miles of international border. Currently, agents patrol an area covering 1,100 square miles, including 32 miles of international border. The station's jurisdiction includes urban areas such as Nogales, Tubac, Patagonia, Amado, and Green Valley.

According to CBP’s webpage for the sector, the Tucson Sector encompasses much of Arizona and stretches approximately 262 miles from New Mexico's border to Yuma County's border. The sector employs about 3,700 agents across nine stations located in Why, Casa Grande, Douglas, Bisbee, Nogales, Sonoita, Tucson, Three Points, and Wilcox. Originally known as the Nogales Sector when it was established on July 1, 1924, its headquarters moved to Tucson two years later.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security tasked with safeguarding national borders and preventing illegal entry of people and contraband. Established in 1924, CBP operates at 328 ports of entry and protects 7,000 miles of land borders along with 95,000 miles of maritime borders.