Del RIo, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Station reunited a 3-year-old child after she was separated from her mother while crossing the Rio Grande River in a raft.
subject had fallen into the river and was
being swept away by the strong current.
“Our Border Patrol agents are doing a remarkable job every day saving lives and averting potential tragedy,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz. “Thanks to the great cooperation between the Border Patrol and the Government of Mexico, this young girl was safely and quickly reunited with her mother.”
On April 25, Border Patrol agents from the Del Rio Station noticed 10 people on a raft making their way across the river to the United States. However, the raft was filling with water and one subject had fallen out into the river and was being swept away by the strong current. The Del Rio Station Riverine Unit quickly responded in their patrol boat and rescued all 10 people.
During processing, agents discovered that a 3-year-old child in the group had become separated from her mother, when the mother stayed behind on the Mexican side of the river. The Del Rio Sector Foreign Operations Branch coordinated with Mexican immigration officials who reunited the child with her mother in Mexico.
The remainder of the group was processing per U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidelines.
The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which leverages federal, state and local resources to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.