The search for lost migrants continues

We have continued to look for the missing young man, Julio, with no success. His father calls Eddie Canales every day to check about the search.

The second place that we looked was under a roadway bridge. It was evident that persons had been there at one point because of the rusted out food cans and a very trampled and weather-beaten cell phone. I am currently inquiring about information on the phone that is still readable.

The third place that we wish to check is a construction site. So far we have not found the place open in order to check.

I am beginning to understand fences. Basically, we only have access to the roadways, and we can see almost nothing with this method. In reviewing recent cases, it appears that the migrants run 30 to 45 minutes inward from the roadway. This means that we have to try to narrow down whose ranch the person(s) might be on and then get permission to go in. Neither is a simple process.

A friend of a friend of another missing migrant, Marcelino, has been sitting with us in our office for two days. I believe that he has been asked to pursue the missing relative because he himself has papers. Family members who do not have papers do not wish to expose themselves in the search.

After sharing with us the information that he had and some pictures, Marcelino sits. All day. Without complaint. Waiting for new evidence or a phone call to say that his friend has been found. Eddie has been working on this case since last week.

In total, eight persons were left behind in small groups. Marcelino?s friend was left alone. None of the eight have yet been found. Eddie shares any information that he gets with the border patrol and the sheriff, and they have been the ones looking at this time. Everyday Eddie calls sheriffs in the area and the border patrol to see if anyone has been found. Marcelino is here again today.

Yesterday, I took my first intake by phone since the caller was speaking English. She also is a friend of a friend. Dany, from Honduras, has not been heard from in three weeks. He was left behind in our area when he could no longer walk. The woman is to call back today after talking with Dany?s mother in Honduras to try to get more details.

Yesterday afternoon on the way to try to look at the construction site, we passed a low flying helicopter and border patrol on the ground. We stopped to talk to the border patrol. Seemingly about seven migrants were found alive and were being rounded up. One woman among them had already been taken by EMS.