Human smugglers abandoned at least nine illegal aliens in the 100-plus degree heat of the South Texas ranch lands, leaving them to die over the Independence Day weekend. U.S. Border Patrol agents found nine illegal immigrants and saved them from a near certain, agonizing death.
While most Americans were enjoying the holiday weekend with family and friends, U.S. Border Patrol agents were out in the desolate ranches in South Texas’ Brooks and Kenedy Counties. The two counties are located nearly 80 miles north of the Texas border with Mexico and contain Border Patrol checkpoints.
The human smugglers, known as coyotes, are ruthless in their treatment of their human smuggling cargo. The history of this region shows that the coyotes will abandon their cargo if the people become injured or otherwise are unable to keep up with their party.
Agents in Falfurrias (Brooks County) received a 911 call from an illegal immigrant who had been abandoned. He reported to be in need of medical attention, information provided by U.S. Border Patrol to Breitbart Texas revealed. Border Patrol agents in the field obtained assistance from a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) helicopter and located the distressed alien. He was eventually transported to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Agents assigned to Kingsville received numerous calls for help over the weekend from illegal immigrants who were reportedly lost in the brush while attempting to circumvent the Highway 77 checkpoint. Over the course of the weekend, agents rescued six illegal aliens who had been left behind in the brush. More than half of those rescued required immediate medical attention. They told the agents they were unable to keep up with their smuggler in the heat and were left behind, the Border Patrol reported.
Agents working in the Raymondville area, located closer to the border region, were called for assistance in finding a lost illegal alien. The distressed person was eventually located and transported to a regional hospital for treatment.
Border Patrol officials have reported a 54 percent increase in the number of rescues within the region. The number of confirmed deaths has decreased by 3 percent compared to last year, despite an increase in the numbers of illegal aliens passing through this area.
The scorching South Texas heat also claimed the life of a Border Patrol K-9 agent, Breitbart Texas’ Ildefonso Ortiz reported in June. K-9 Lazer was attempting to help his partner find illegal immigrants in the brush in Brooks County when he became overheated. The dog’s handler attempted to cool him down and transported him for medical care. Lazer eventually died from heat exhaustion.
As June came to a close, the number of dead bodies found in Brooks County alone had risen to 27, Breitbart Texas reported. “The treatment of these illegal immigrants by their human smugglers is horrific,” Brooks County Sheriff-elect Benny Martinez told Breitbart Texas. “The people they take on these marches around the checkpoint are ill-prepared for the heat and hazardous terrain of these ranches. When they can’t keep up, they are left behind where they will die quickly if they don’t get help.”
The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures in this region to stay at or above 100 degrees for the next week. Rain is also not likely for this time-frame making the hazard of lack of water even more pronounced. Following a two-day break where the temperature will only be in the high nineties, the temperature will climb back to 101 degrees through the middle of July.
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.
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