U.S. officials refuse to allow Mexican search and rescue team at collapsed Miami condo

Seven Mexican search-and-rescue volunteers who flew to Florida to help after a residential high-rise near Miami collapsed have been barred from the disaster site because of U.S. restrictions.

A number of Mexican search-and-rescue groups called 'topos' - which means 'moles' - emerged from local rescue efforts after the devastating 1985 earthquake that hit Mexico City. Since then, Mexican teams have responded to disasters around the world.

"We pray that we would be granted permissions to access the rubble and help the missing persons," said Adrian Salvador Aguirre Macias, 46, who has . . .