Border Patrol Rescues Two Illegal Immigrants from Rio Grande River

Del Rio, Texas-based Border Patrol agents rescued two illegal immigrants who were attempting to illegally cross the Rio Grande River, according to a recent press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

Reports state that the two immigrants were a 33-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter, both citizens of El Salvador. 

Border Patrol agents initially arrived on the scene after receiving a tip regarding potential smuggling activity in Eagle Pass. They then saw the mother and daughter struggling to stay afloat in the water. 

“The agents responded quickly by deploying flotation devices to the struggling victims, then safely pulled them from the river and onto their patrol boat,” the CBP press release stated. 

Zack Taylor, Chairman of the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, told Breitbart Texas that it is very common for Border Patrol agents to save the lives of illegal immigrants. He was stationed near Eagle Pass, Texas.

“We used to do that on a near daily basis, it is very common,” he said. “A lot of the rescued aliens end up going straight to medical care. Either the city, the county, or the federal government ultimately pays for that … in many cases, first responder would not respond unless we said in advance that we would take responsibility for the aliens–in that case, the money would come from the border patrol.”

Following the most recent incident in Eagle Pass, the mother and daughter both reportedly denied medical care. They are currently being processed by CBP. 

Chief Patrol Agent, Del Rio Sector Rodolfo Karisch said in a statement, “All of our agents are trained in basic first aid and water rescue, and utilize these skills in their everyday duties. The agents at the scene were able to respond quickly and prevent the loss of life of these two individuals. I commend them for their actions. This incident highlights the dangers of attempting to enter the United States illegally by crossing the Rio Grande River.”

Taylor added, “The primary concern in these kinds of situations is always the condition of the rescued person. Sometimes we realized they had been injured or had a condition after we took them into custody.”

So far this year, Breitbart Texas has reported on numerous cases involving the rescue of illegal immigrants by U.S. law enforcement agents. 

Earlier in April, agents saved the lives of four individuals last who are believed to be victims of human trafficking. 

The rescued illegal immigrants were lost in the brush and in distress after being abandoned by smugglers. Agents showed up on the scene in response to a 9-1-1 call. One of the immigrants received medical care at a Kingsville hospital–he has since been released, and all four are currently being processed by Border Patrol. 

Another instance occurred in April when Border Patrol rescued a 5-year-old Honduran girl from drowning in the Rio Grande River.

Daniel Tirado, a spokesman for Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector, told Breitbart Texas, “Oftentimes, agents are reaching immigrants before they are exposed to dangers. A lot of the rescued individuals are removed from the country. But usually they’re glad to be rescued.”

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