We had 39 days of extreme heat. That's what led to the spike in the deaths in the summer months. We had 61 deaths in July alone.

What these guys are doing out there is something that maybe 1 or 2 percent of the extreme sports fanatics can actually achieve to get out there in 18-foot waves? It's crazy.

That does not mean the Tucson Sector is going to send any yet.

We need the permanent checkpoints - they send a message of deterrence.

The heat has been brutal. The smugglers continue to bring these people to the vastness of our western deserts ... and we cannot control the elements.

The reason for the increase is because we have a lot more agents out there. We have 2,400 agents, and we're making it a lot more difficult [to enter]. We're frustrating their efforts because we have a constant presence along the borders.