Eagle Pass Border Patrol Agents Rescue Family of Three from Rio Grande River
(PRESS RELEASE) EAGLE PASS, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued a man and his two children as they attempted to cross the swift-flowing Rio Grande River Wednesday.
“This rescue serves as reminder of the dangers faced by those who attempt to illegally cross the border,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Felix Chavez. “If not for the vigilance of our Texas National Guard partners and the quick response by our Border Patrol agents, this incident could have ended tragically with the loss of life of two small children and their father.”
On Aug. 15, Texas National Guard personnel operating closed circuit surveillance camera systems observed four individuals attempting to cross the river from Mexico. One of the individuals, believed to be the guide or smuggler, returned to Mexico leaving two small children stranded in the middle of the river on an inner tube. The rapid current quickly carried the children downstream away from the riverbank. Border Patrol marine agents patrolling nearby in a CBP boat quickly responded, lifted the two children out of the water, and brought them aboard. The children’s father, swept away and struggling with the current, was clinging to debris in a desperate attempt to keep his head above water. The agents repositioned their boat, moved in, and pulled the man out of the water.
The man and his two daughters, all citizens of El Salvador, were brought ashore and did not request or require medical attention. The family was transported to the Eagle Pass South Station where they were processed per CBP guidelines.
Since April 2018, the U.S. Army National Guard deployed to the Southwest border as part of “Operation Guardian Support” providing multi-faceted support to U.S. Border Patrol operations.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West, South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.
