Rio Grande River Current Sweeps Undocumented Immigrant Mother and Child, Presumed Drowned

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2019

The surge of undocumented immigrants from Central American and other foreign countries into the United States has heightened the risks taken by these migrants while attempting to cross the Rio Grande River from Mexico to apply for asylum.

The United States Border Patrol, Del Rio Sector, reported that an undocumented female immigrant and her young child who were attempting to cross the Rio Grande River between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico and Eagle Pass, Texas were swept by the strong currents at approximately 1:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 in the midst of darkness.

The mother was believed to be approximately in her 20s while her daughter was approximately three or so years old.

Border Patrol agents observed the woman and child wade into the Rio Grande River and suddenly swept by the strong currents of the Rio Grande. Authorities on both sides of the United States-Mexico border were notified to look for the young mother and child, but as of today have not been found or located and are presumed to have drowned in the Rio Grande. It is unknown to authorities if the mother and child were able to swim or reach land.

The darkness of the early morning (1:30 P.M.) made it difficult for rescue groups from both the United States and Mexico to search and locate the young mother and child.

Authorities request that undocumented immigrants not swim across the Rio Grande River, particularly with children, to avoid these type of tragedies from occurring.