MOOERS, N.Y. – On Saturday, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Champlain Station rescued two citizens of Mexico wandering in the woods in dangerously cold conditions.

“I am proud of the dedication these agents showed in extremely cold conditions preventing these two illegal aliens from harm,” said Champlain Station Patrol Agent in Charge Norm Lague. “There was an extremely high likelihood that this illegal entry could have resulted in a tragedy.”

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on January 26, two agents patrolling the International Border on snowmobiles discovered the footprints of two people crossing the border illegally into the United States near Gokey Road in Mooers, NY. At the time, the temperature was approximately 19 degrees Fahrenheit, with an eight mile per hour wind. The area consists of thick woods and swamp with approximately three feet of snow on the ground. Agents began following the footprints and soon believed the pair to be lost. Two hours later, the agents encountered a man, later identified as Roberto Jimenez-Cardenas, age 28, and a woman, Anita Jimenez-Velez, age 50, standing in wooded area about three-quarters of a mile from the border. Neither were wearing gloves or other suitable clothing for the weather. It was quickly getting dark and the temperature was dropping. One of the agents, also certified as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) gave the woman her gloves to warm-up. The man was given chemical hand warming packets to help him warm up.

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Both admitted to being citizens of Mexico and having entered the United States illegally. Agents arrested the pair and quickly removed them from the elements and took them to the Champlain Border Patrol Station for medical evaluation and to perform record checks and post arrest processing. The Border Patrol EMT suspected that Jimenez might have frost-bite and transported her to the hospital for evaluation. Jimenez was later released back into Border Patrol custody after being medically cleared for exposure and frost-bite.

Checks revealed that Roberto Jimenez was removed from the United States at Laredo, Texas last year. The United States Attorney’s office for the Northern District of New York is charging him with Re-entry after Removal, a felony under 8 USC 1326. Anita Jimenez is being charged with Entry without Inspection, a misdemeanor under 8 USC 1325. Both will be removed to Mexico at the conclusion of their criminal cases.

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