EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents working in the Rio Grande Valley located decedents and rescued four.
On Thursday, Fort Brown agents apprehended a group of illegal aliens near Brownsville, Texas. During processing, one of the illegal aliens informed agents that a severely injured illegal alien was abandoned by a smuggler several days prior. Agents, along with a Border Patrol Search-Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) K-9, responded to the area and located the deceased subject. Cameron County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and took custody of the decedent. The incident remains under investigation.
Tuesday evening, agents assigned to the McAllen riverine unit discovered the body of a deceased subject along the banks of the Rio Grande near La Joya, Texas. Agents contacted the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) and local Justice of the Peace who responded and transported the decedent to the county morgue.
That same day, the HCSO contacted the McAllen Border Patrol Station regarding a 911 caller claiming to be lost in the brush with three additional subjects. Agents, HCSO deputies, and a helicopter from Air and Marine Operations, responded to the origin of the call to search for the distressed group. After a few hours, agents located the lost subjects and provided them with medical attention.
Today, the Hidalgo Police Department contacted the McAllen station regarding a 911 call in reference to lost subjects. The subject on the phone advised dispatch that they could see a blimp from a distance. Agents instructed them to walk toward the blimp as they conducted a search of the area. Shortly thereafter, agents discovered the group of 19 illegal aliens, which the smugglers abandoned.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPRGV.