Del Rio Sector agents rescued five Honduran migrants from the swiftly moving waters of the Rio Grande River that separates Texas from Mexico. Agents said two were toddlers who were put in grave danger.
Eagle Pass Station agents patrolling the river on a boat came upon a group of migrants who were attempting to wade across the Rio Grande River not far from a legal port of entry. The agents approached the migrants and found three adults — two were holding young children, according to Del Rio Sector Border Patrol officials.
Eagle Pass Station Marine Unit agents approach five Honduran migrants, including two toddlers, who chose to cross the Rio Grand River near a legal port of entry. (Photo: U.S. Border Patrol/Del Rio Sector)
The agents said the adults appeared to be struggling to hang on to the two children due to the currents.
The marine-unit agents requested assistance from Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents as they began to pull the migrants from the river onto their boat. The marine-unit agents transported the three adults and two children to the river bank where BORSTAR agents provided medical treatment and evaluation to the migrants.
Ground-based agents transported the migrants to the Eagle Pass Station for processing. The agents identified the migrants as Honduran nationals. They reported the children to be one and two-years-old.
“Crossing the Rio Grande River is both dangerous and illegal. The dedication and quick response of our agents prevented a tragedy this morning,” Del Rio Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak said in a written statement. “We encourage all migrants to utilize the Ports of Entries to make a proper entry into the United States.”
The migrants chose or were directed to make the dangerous illegal border crossing with their young children despite the nearby presence of the Camino Real International Bridge port of entry.
Eagle Pass is across the river from Piedras Negras, Coahuila — the location of the most recent Honduran migrant caravan arrival. It is estimated that about 2,000 mostly Honduran migrants are currently waiting in shelters just across the river from Texas.
Officials told Breitbart News it is not known if these particular migrants are associated with the caravan.
Late last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed hundreds of Department of Public Safety troopers to the Eagle Pass area to assist Border Patrol agents in securing the border. The troopers used their vehicles to create a virtual wall where no physical barrier exists, Breitbart News reported.
Prior to the arrival of the migrant caravan in Piedras Negras, Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents reported a 364 percent increase in the apprehension of migrant families during the first four months of the fiscal year which began on October 1, 2018. The sector also reported an increase of 66 percent in the number of unaccompanied minors apprehended.
During Fiscal Year 2018, Border Patrol agents conducted rescue operations that led to the saving of more than 4,300 migrants. Many times, agents put their own lives and safety at risk to carry out these operations.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for the Breitbart Border team. He is an original member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.