An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. RGV Agents Rescue Abandoned Migrants

RGV Agents Rescue Abandoned Migrants

Release Date
Wed, 06/16/2021

EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents rescue 17 migrants abandoned by smugglers. 

Monday morning, Kenedy County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kingsville Border Patrol Station regarding two subjects that called 9-1-1 for assistance. Unable to triangulate his call, agents established communication with the Ecuadorian national via WhatsApp. Agents were able to obtain his location and transport the two subjects to the Kingsville Border Patrol Station for processing.

Yesterday morning, Kingsville Border Patrol Station agents working on U.S. Highway 77 south of the Kenedy County Rest Area, encountered an Ecuadorian male migrant walking along the road. The migrant was transported to the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint. During processing, he stated he left his 16-year-old son alone in the brush a day and a half prior, because he was having trouble walking. Agents were quickly dispatched to the last known area and were able to locate the juvenile a few short hours later. The juvenile was medically evaluated by a Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technician and was found to be in good health.

Yesterday afternoon, Brooks County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station regarding four lost subjects in need of assistance. The caller, a Salvadoran male, stated he was traveling with two juveniles, one of them unaccompanied. Shortly after, agents were able to locate the caller and four additional lost migrants he was traveling with. The five subjects were evaluated by the station’s medical staff and were found to be in good health.

One hour later, the Falfurrias Border Patrol Station received a 9-1-1 phone call from a Salvadoran national claiming he was abandoned by a brush guide. The migrant was traveling with six others who became lost in the ranch lands of Brooks County, Texas, as they attempted to circumvent the Border Patrol checkpoint. Brooks County dispatchers triangulated his call and were able to provide coordinates to his general location. Agents located the group and preliminary health assessments determined that multiple subjects required medical assistance due to extreme dehydration. Four of the migrants were so exhausted, they were carried out of the brush by agents. Agents successfully transported the migrants to a nearby road where EMS provided medical attention and transported them to the nearest hospital. Of the five migrants transported to the hospital, two were admitted.

Border Patrol processed all subjects accordingly.

Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation.  The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection.  Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.

Last Modified: Jun 16, 2021