Border Patrol Agents Rescues Two from Rio Grande

EAGLE PASS, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents pulled a Honduran woman and her 9-month-old child from the Rio Grande River, Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 3:50 pm, agents with the Eagle Pass Station’s Marine Unit on patrol near the Port of Entry, noticed several people on the Mexican side of the riverbank, including a woman with a child. The woman, holding an inner tube and the small child, appeared reluctant to get into the water when an unidentified adult male pushed her and the child into river. The two were quickly swept downstream as the woman desperately tried to keep the child’s head above water. The agents reacted quickly in their patrol boat and observed both momentarily submerging before they could be pulled out of the water. The woman and the child did not suffer injury and were both evaluated by Eagle Pass Fire Department EMS on scene. Mexican authorities were notified and informed about the subject who was seen pushing the woman and child into the river.

“Our agents are saving lives on a daily basis as more immigrants are risking their safety attempting to illegally enter our country,” said Del Rio Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz. “I am proud of the work our agents are doing every day, recognizing dangerous situations and reacting quickly to prevent loss of life.”

An increase in water release from Amistad Dam continues to create dangerous conditions for anyone attempting to cross the Rio Grande River, and for agents operating on or near the river. The Rio Grande River is expected to remain near flood stage for the next 12 days.

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 terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.