A fisherman rescued a young migrant from drowning the Rio Grande this week – but at least one other young seeker was killed in a crossing between Mexico and Texas.
The heart-wrenching loss of life was caught on video, and came just a few days after President Biden issued a warning to those seeking asylum this week’s rigorous trip: with asylum seekers: “Don’t come.”
Laredo fisherman Jesus Vargas was across the river on Tuesday when he saw a truck loaded with migrants by customs and border security officials, he told the local station KGNS.
“Vargas said to the station,” I was coming out of work and there was a truck in front of me, almost in front of me.
“An officer was behind it and just followed him and they went all the way to Calton Road and then the river. A flock of people started jumping into the river – but they were drowning when they were about halfway there. Nobody was doing anything, ”Vargas reportedly said.
“Hey, you don’t have a life jacket – nothing?” They are drowning, these people. The girl didn’t get out … take the boat out. They are drowning, ”Vargas can be heard pleading with Border Patrol agents, who claim they did not come to the aid of the migrant over the disturbing clip published by KGNS.
Vargas said that he threw his fishing line into the river, so that a struggling little boy was kept safe on the shore.
Vargas told the station, “He put his little arm out and the wire went out and that’s how I took it out, but the rest of the people just drowned.”
Local NBC affiliate News4SA asked Border Patrol officials about Vargas’ claim that agents did not help the drowning migrants.
US Customs and Border Protection said in a written response, “On March 16, 2021, border patrol agents assigned to the Laredo sector identified a vehicle suspected of involvement in foreign smuggling activity.”
“The vehicle drove into the area of Calton Road, near the coast of the Rio Grande, at which time many of the vehicle’s occupants fled into the river toward Mexico. Other people aboard the vehicle were taken into custody. A man entering the river drowned and was recovered by Mexican authorities. The second time was last seen floating and was not located. The incident is under review by CBP’s Professional Responsibility. ”
The number of unidentified children and teenagers detained by US authorities along the southern border has increased in recent weeks among migrants trying to cross the country.
Last month, Biden ended Trump’s “Made in Mexico” policy, which required Central American asylum seekers to remain in Mexico, while US courts reviewed their claims.
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