On August 2, 2022, at approximately 5:53 a.m., Border Patrol Agents received a report of multiple groups of suspected undocumented migrants in an area known as Avocado Landing, located east of El Faro Road near Los Ebanos, Texas. Three agents responded to the area and conducted a foot search around 5:57 a.m.
Agents apprehended eight undocumented migrants; however, several other individuals fled towards the river. Upon securing the undocumented migrants, agents searched for additional migrants and encountered about ten more individuals alongside the riverbank at approximately 6:26 a.m. As the Border Patrol agents began sending the migrants to other agents to be secured, they heard screaming in the river. The agents called for support, which resulted in the deployment of a rescue flotation device.
An agent took the rescue device, ran towards the river and reported he did not hear anyone screaming and could not see anyone due to the darkness. The agent repeatedly threw the flotation device toward the area of the screaming but the person did not resurface.
Vessels from the U.S. Coast Guard and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department searched the river and a man’s body was recovered at approximately 9:10 a.m. The decedent was later identified as a citizen of Guatemala.
This incident is being reviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General was also notified.