Glendale, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents joined the Missing in Arizona Day at ASU West in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday October 21, to represent the Missing Migrant Program (MMP).

The Tucson Sector MMP participation in the event shows dedication in our mission to prevent the loss of life of undocumented migrants during their illicit journey into the United States and assists to identify those that have perished in the desert. The program works with third party reporting entities such as foreign consulates, various agencies, and non-governmental organizations in order to reunite missing loved ones or provide a resolution to the unidentified person.

A large part of this is done by providing a single point of contact for reporting distressed and missing migrants, and by conducting databases searches. In the fiscal year 2017, the program received more than 1500 inquires varying from distress calls, missing migrants and found remains.

Over 70 missing person reports were processed on Saturday at the 3rd Annual Missing in Arizona Day of which approximately 16 of the persons reported and searched were located through the Border Patrol’s databases.

“The Border Patrol values human life and has placed an emphasis on providing aid to migrants in distress, additionally we also work to find closure for families with missing loved ones through our Missing Migrant Program” said Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch. “We are tasked with enforcing immigration laws of the United States but that does not limit our compassion.”