Skip to main content

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.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Air Interdiction Agent from the McAllen Air Branch Rescues Drowning Woman

Air Interdiction Agent from the McAllen Air Branch Rescues Drowning Woman

Release Date
Thu, 08/09/2018

LA JOYA, Texas – A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Air Interdiction Agent jumped into the Rio Grande to save a drowning woman.

Air and Marine agents saves woman from drowning in the Rio Grande
Air and Marine agents saves woman
from drowning in the Rio Grande

On Tuesday, AMO Air Interdiction Agents assigned to the McAllen Air and Marine Branch conducted line operations when they spotted a group of illegal aliens on the U.S. riverbank near La Joya, Texas. As the agents alerted Border Patrol, the group ran back toward the Rio Grande and jumped off a 15 foot cliff into the river to swim back to Mexico. Agents observed as a single woman, who was hesitant to jump in, contemplate the decision. Despite attempts to coax the woman off the cliff, the woman jumped into the river and immediately struggled to stay afloat.  After noticing the woman could not swim and that the group of illegal aliens refused to offer her assistance, one of the Air Interdiction Agents jumped into the water and retrieved her.

The woman was not injured and did not require any medical attention.

The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and to help save lives by reporting suspicious activity at 800-863-9382. 

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

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021