DPS stops vehicle carrying two illegal aliens in the trunk

Sofia knows it's illegal to enter the United States without the proper documentation and knows she risks her life in doing so.

But she also knows she can make more money in one hour on this side of the border than she would make in one day working in Mexico.

So, with the goal of making money for her family, she arrived in the Los Algodones, Baja Calif., area this week with her 15-year-old son and husband and made her way across the All-American Canal Wednesday night - losing her shoes and almost drowning along the way.

The trio were among six illegal aliens to be stopped by an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer in the area of Highway 95 and Fortuna Road after the officer noticed the driver was speeding north on Highway 95 Thursday afternoon.

After pulling the vehicle over, the DPS officer said, the driver told the people in the car to run before doing so himself. Two adult males were left stuck in the trunk of the vehicle.

As of Thursday evening, U.S. Border Patrol agents had not located the driver.

Sofia, who did not give her last name, said the group was headed to Yuma, where they expected to find agricultural work.

She said the mud caked on their legs and pants was from walking across the canal, and said the driver agreed to give them a ride after the group had finally convinced the driver. One of the men said he agreed to get in the trunk as a way to convince the driver to give everyone a ride.

"We told him we would pay for the gas," she said.

DPS later towed the vehicle.

After being told they would be returned to Mexico, most in the group said they expected to return to their homes and forget about coming back north.

Sofia said she would pray to God that President Bush's proposed guest worker plan becomes law soon and said she would be willing to take part in the program.

Though it wasn't the reason she chose to bring her family to the U.S., Sofia said taking part in a guest worker program would be the best way for Mexican citizens to work here.

"That way we won't have to risk our lives," she said. "We could work here for a while and go back home."