Border Patrol agent cutting razor wire to let in migrants
Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Chris Olivarez says this is the first they have seen of an incident like this and says it ‘undermines’ DPS’ ability to ‘secure the border.’
Texas authorities have recovered four bodies, including an infant, from the Rio Grande near the United States-Mexico border since the start of July, officials said.
Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said two of the bodies were pulled from the river on July 1, one on July 2 and another on July 3. The remains have not yet been identified.
"In the past 48 hours, the Texas Department of Public Safety Tactical Marine Unit (TMU) recovered 4 deceased bodies including an infant from the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass," Olivarez tweeted Monday afternoon.
TMU Operators and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission responded to a request from U.S. Border Patrol "regarding a possible infant drowning" on July 1, according to Olivarez.
MIGRANT CHILDREN ABANDONED BY ALLEGED SMUGGLER RESCUED BY TEXAS DPS AMID TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers recovered four bodies in Eagle Pass so far this month, a Texas DPS spokesperson said Monday, July 3. (Texas Department of Public Safety)
The agencies deployed two airboats and came across "multiple bodies" floating along the river. Olivarez said four people were brought onto the boat, and two of them were unresponsive – a woman and an infant girl.
TMU operators performed CPR on the woman and baby, but they remained unresponsive. Once medical staff arrived at the scene, both were taken to the Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.
The two survivors, who were not identified, were "turned over to U.S. Border Patrol," Olivarez said.
Texas DPS has not been able to identify any of the bodies pulled from the Rio Grande since none of the people had identifying documents. (Shaul Schwarz/Getty Images)
TEXAS DPS RECOVER TWO ABANDONED YOUNG GUATEMALAN CHILDREN IN EAGLE PASS
Authorities also recovered the body of an unknown male from the Rio Grande on Sunday and then the body of an unknown woman on Monday, the Texas DPS spokesman shared.
"The identities of the deceased remain unknown since none possessed identifying documents," Olivarez added.
In addition to the bodies found over the past few days, Texas DPS troopers took in two Guatemalan migrant children abandoned near the border on Monday.
The children, ages 8 and 11, were found at the edge of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Olivarez said.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers recovered two abandoned migrant children in Eagle Pass near the U.S.-Mexico border on July 3, 2023. (Texas DPS)
The children told troopers that an adult female left them at the edge of the river in Mexico and told them to cross it.
"Children who are smuggled/trafficked across the Texas-Mexico border continue to be exploited & left abandoned in dangerous situations," Olivarez said Monday afternoon.
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Over 900 children have been recovered by Texas DPS personnel during smuggling and trafficking-related events, according to Olivarez.
Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
