WASHINGTON — A tragic incident occurred on Friday night as a woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande while attempting to enter the U.S. from Mexico. This heartbreaking event unfolded after Texas military officers prevented federal border officials from providing aid, according to U.S. border officials and a member of Congress.
The deaths come amidst a heated dispute over immigration between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden. The ongoing conflict has been exacerbated by a surge in the number of migrants illegally crossing the border since Biden took office in 2021.
Under Abbott’s leadership, Texas has taken steps to implement its own border controls, encroaching on what has historically been the federal government’s jurisdiction.
The tragic incident occurred near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, an area that is not a legal port of entry and where the Texas National Guard recently added concertina wire and fencing.
In a filing in the U.S. Supreme Court, the federal government accused Texas of erecting new barriers to impede federal Border Patrol agents from accessing the Rio Grande via a boat ramp. Texas responded by stating that federal Border Patrol agents had largely stopped using the boat ramp in recent months and that they were unaware of any current objections from federal law enforcement.
According to U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, federal Border Patrol agents were made aware of a group of migrants in distress around 9 p.m. CT on Friday as they attempted to cross the Rio Grande. However, they were unable to contact Texas officials by phone and were physically barred from entering the area by Texas Military Department soldiers.
This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility.
–U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar
The bodies of the woman and two children were recovered on Saturday by Mexican authorities. Cuellar emphasized that the state bears responsibility for this tragedy.
The Texas Military Department offered a different account, stating that they were contacted by Border Patrol for a migrant distress situation and actively searched the river but did not observe any distressed migrants. They ceased search operations after reporting their observations to the Border Patrol and were not made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding immigration and border control, and it serves as a reminder of the urgent need for cooperation and compassion in addressing these issues.
Agree How tragic and devastating. This dispute is directly impacting innocent lives. It’s time for the Texas and White House to prioritize humanity and find a solution.