Nine individuals attempting to cross the Canadian border into Minnesota were rescued by the United States Border Patrol Agents and emergency agencies after being found «in distress» due to cold weather. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported the incident after receiving an emergency call from one of the individuals. The group of nine was found in a flooded bog, with water temperatures below freezing, and air temperatures in the high 20s at the time. The agents had to wear protective suits to rescue the men from the area.
All nine individuals were transported to regional medical facilities, with one person being medically airlifted. Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett commended the agents and local partners for working together to prevent tragedy. The group of nine ranged in age from 19 to 46, and none of them had proper immigration documents to enter the United States legally. Therefore, all nine were later determined to be illegally present in the country.
Seven individuals were citizens of Mexico, and they were processed and transferred from medical facilities to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The other two men are still receiving medical care, and agents have been unable to ascertain their nationality due to their medical condition.
It is worth noting that last year, four people, including a baby and a teenager, were found dead in Canada near the U.S. border in what authorities believe was a failed crossing attempt during a freezing blizzard. This incident is a reminder of the dangers associated with illegal border crossings and the importance of following legal procedures for entering a country.