Texas Border Business
Edinburg, Texas – McAllen Border Patrol Agents rescued two males from drowning in the Rio Grande in separate incidents.
On Monday evening, McAllen agents working near Havana, Texas, observed 13 illegal aliens traveling north of the Rio Grande. As agents responded to the area, the subjects returned to the river and attempted to swim towards an awaiting human smuggler on an inflatable raft. Agents then observed a subject, later identified as a Guatemalan national, struggling to stay afloat and appeared to be drowning. Shortly thereafter, an agent jumped into the river and successfully extracted the man from the water. Agents evaluated the man and offered medical attention, which he declined.
This morning, McAllen riverine agents working in La Joya, Texas, observed a male subject in the Rio Grande attempting to stay afloat in the dangerous currents. The agents immediately assisted the man, who appeared to have ingested water, and removed him from the river. Agents transported the man to an awaiting Border Patrol Agent Emergency Medical Technician for evaluation. After the evaluation, agents requested emergency medical services. Hidalgo County EMS responded and transported the subject to Mission Regional Medical Center.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping
