Three people trying to cross into the United States illegally were rescued after they became stuck on top of a new section of border wall.

The rescue occurred at about midnight on Saturday, according to a press release. Agents on patrol near San Diego, California, noticed that a man and two women were perched at the top of the 30-foot-tall steel wall after “smugglers abandoned them.”

Agents called the San Diego Fire Department to assist, and a ladder truck was used to safely remove the trio without injury.



(U.S. Customs and Border Protection)



According to officials, the three were all Mexican nationals attempting to cross into the U.S. illegally and included a 36-year-old male, a 20-year-old female, and an 18-year-old female.

Aaron Heitke, San Diego Sector’s acting chief patrol agent, said that the group was lucky that agents were able to spot them in the dense fog and wet conditions.

“These three were very fortunate to not have fallen from the top of the wall, which could have resulted in serious injury or death,” he said. “These dangers are not important considerations to smugglers, who place an emphasis on profits over safety.”

The three were brought to a Border Patrol station for processing.