LAREDO, Texas – Border Patrol agents from the Laredo Sector rescued 3 undocumented immigrants in two separate cases.
On April 24, 2016, at approximately 5:15p.m., agents assigned to the Laredo South Station rescued 2 undocumented immigrants who were in need of assistance while attempting to swim from the U.S. riverbanks back to Mexico. Agents noticed the subjects in distress when the agent jumped into the river to rescue both of them and brought them to the U.S. shoreline to safety. Both subjects were offered medical assistance, but declined. The subjects were processed accordingly.
Later that evening at around 8:20p.m., Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo West Station encountered a lost subject who had been bitten by a snake near a ranch on HWY 83. Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician arrived at to the scene to evaluate and render aid to the subject in distress. The subject was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
“We recently launched our Border Safety Initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of crossing the border illegally. Despite these warnings, people continue to unnecessarily risk their lives to cross the border. I am very proud of the brave and selfless acts exhibited by our agents who risk their lives to rescue those in need,” said Laredo Sector Chief Mario Martinez.
The Border Safety Initiative (BSI), a humanitarian, bi-national strategy is designed to reduce migrant deaths. The U.S. Border Patrol strives to prevent deaths and increase rescues of illegal immigrants who fall prey to callous, unscrupulous human smugglers who place them in dangerous situations to fend for themselves.