Residents report men running through their neighborhood

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received numerous calls Saturday from residents in the 51000 block of West Jennifer Road outside the city limits of Maricopa about 10 to 30 illegal immigrants knocking on doors and either asking for food and water or running through the area.

Deputies were able to locate five people and one marijuana-filled backpack; the people admitted they were in the U.S. illegally, according to a PCSO press release.

The five were arrested and transported to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Casa Grande substation where they were interviewed.

Juan Sanchez, 23 of Oaxaca, Mexico, admitted coming into the U.S. illegally through Sonora a week ago. He said he was with a group of 11 who were chased by U.S. Border Patrol after they crossed. Several members of their group were caught. Sanchez was previously arrested for a DUI in California and deported. He was planning to return to California.

Daniel Garcia Cruz, 20 of Oaxaca, admitted coming into the U.S. illegally through Sonora on Thursday with a group of 14. He said several members of his group were caught by U.S. Border Patrol on Saturday. He was planning to head to California.

Pedro Filimon Ramirez-Garcia, age 24 of Oaxaca, admitted coming into the country illegally through Sonora a week ago with a group of 11. He, too, was trying to get to California.

Lorenzo Perez Santis, 30 of Chiapas, Mexico, also admitted coming into the country illegally through Sonora with eight others 12 days ago. He was headed to Tampa, Fla.