Border Patrol Agents Save Illegal Immigrant from Drowning

Border Patrol agents from the Eagle Pass Marine Unit rescued an illegal immigrant who was in danger of drowning in the swift currents of the Rio Grande River.

U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling the Rio Grande River observed a man in distress Wednesday morning. The 20-year-old Mexican national had been stuck on a sand bar in the middle of the river for about four hours, according to information obtained by Breitbart Texas from Border Patrol spokesman Dennis Smith.

The Mexican national was unable to swim to either bank because of the currents of the river. As agents approached on their river patrol boats, the man began to struggle in the water. The Marine Unit agents quickly approached the suspected illegal immigrant and threw him a rescue line. The man grabbed the line and was pulled to the boat.

“The Rio Grande River is dangerous and unpredictable making the journey through it unforgiving and resulting in many deaths,” Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said in a written statement. “The men and women of the United States Border work diligently in preventing the loss of life.”

The agents took the man into custody and transported him to the Eagle Pass South Station. He was later processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines. No background information on the man was provided. It is not known if this is his first illegal entry to the U.S. or if he has any criminal history.

Border Patrol agents frequently rescue illegal immigrants from certain death after their human smugglers, who are often connected to Mexican cartels, abandon them in dangerous situations. Immigrants are frequently left to die in the arid fields of south Texas; stashed in the trunks of vehicles where temperatures can reach 140 degrees or more; or packed like cord wood in the back of a vehicle where they face serious injury or death in the event of a vehicle accident.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.