A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande while trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico. U.S. border officials and Congressman Henry Cuellar reported that Texas military officers prevented federal border officials from assisting the victims. The incident occurred near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, not an official entry point, amidst a heated immigration dispute between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden’s administration.
Under Governor Abbott, Texas has been enforcing its own border controls, a move traditionally under federal jurisdiction. The Texas National Guard recently added barriers along the river, which the federal government claims obstructed Border Patrol agents’ access to a boat ramp used for river patrols.
On the night of the incident, Border Patrol agents, unable to reach Texas officials by phone, were reportedly denied access to the area by Texas Military Department soldiers. According to Luis Miranda, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Texas military officials physically barred federal agents, preventing them from performing their duties, which include arresting illegal crossers and providing humanitarian aid.
The bodies were recovered by Mexican authorities. Congressman Cuellar criticized Texas’s actions as cruel and dangerous, blaming the state for the tragedy. In contrast, the Texas Military Department claims they were unaware of distressed migrants or any bodies in the area, stating they did not turn back any illegal immigrants or were informed of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side.
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
