Mission, Texas - Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol received a call for assistance from the Palmview Police Department in the rescue of a group of illegal aliens south of Mission late last night.
The event transpired after 11 p.m., when the McAllen Border Patrol Station received a call for emergency assistance. It was reported that a group of people were in distress amid turbulent floodwaters south of a levy in the vicinity of Butterfly Park. Several agencies were summoned, including: Customs and Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine McAllen Air Branch, RGV BORSTAR, Mission Fire Department, Mission Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety Air OPS.
Four adult males, one adult female, and her two adolescent children were rescued. The group had been abandoned by a human smuggler when the floodwaters became too treacherous. It was determined that all were nationals of Mexico and after declining medical treatment, the group was transported to the McAllen Border Patrol Station pending immigration procedures and processing for removal to their country of origin.
"The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol are trained in all types of rescue procedures. Crossing the river always poses a threat to those who attempt it, and those who respond to rescue. Many risks are taken when attempting to cross the Rio Grande illegally," said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Ricardo E. Aguirre. "Not only do these people place their lives in the hands of smugglers, but they place their fate in an unpredictable river. Fortunately, in this case no injuries or deaths resulted from the crossing attempt."