U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents discovered multiple victims of high heat in recent weeks, as would-be illegal immigrants died in the desert attempting to make the crossing into the United States.

“In separate incidents Saturday, agents discovered three deceased subjects, all of whom are believed to be illegal immigrants,” the Department of Homeland Security announced last Monday.  “Casa Grande Station agents working near Sells, Ariz., located a pregnant female, dehydrated and in need of medical attention, sitting with her deceased husband. The Guatemalan couple had crossed the border two days earlier and had been abandoned by their smuggler when the husband collapsed.”

Such tragedies are not uncommon. “As temperatures increase, the risks associated with crossing the Sonoran Desert cannot be understated,” DHS said. “Last month, Border Patrol agents located 19 deceased individuals, a result of blistering temperatures setting in earlier this year and ruthless smugglers who lie to desperate immigrants by telling them they will walk a short distance.”