3 migrants drowned in Eagle Pass days after Texas blocked Border Patrol from miles of US-Mexico border, congressman says | CNN
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Three migrants, a woman and two children, drowned Saturday in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas – very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis – just days after state authorities blocked the US Border Patrol from accessing miles of the US-Mexico border, authorities said.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10685418

Three migrants, a woman and two children, drowned Saturday in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas – very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis – just days after state authorities blocked the US Border Patrol from accessing miles of the US-Mexico border, according to a post on X by Rep. Henry Cuellar.

“This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility,” Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, said on X, formally known as Twitter.

The congressman said Border Patrol learned a group of six migrants were in distress in the Rio Grande at about 9 p.m. on Friday.

Border Patrol called the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety but “were unsuccessful” at relaying the information by phone, Cuellar said in the social media post. Federal agents then went to the gate at Shelby Park, set up by Texas authorities, to provide the information, Cuellar said.

“However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants – even in the event of an emergency – and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation,” Cuellar said on X.

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    “In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area,” a DHS spokesperson told CNN in a statement.

    “TMD reported their observations back to Border Patrol, and they confirmed that the Mexican authorities required no additional assistance,” the statement said.

    The Texas Military Department told CNN in a statement the state was preparing for future migrant surges and was blocking “organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings.”

    Tensions have remained high between the state and federal officials as they’ve challenged multiple policies put in place by Republican Texas Gov.

    Greg Abbott, including the use of razor wire along the border and a new law that makes entering Texas illegally a state crime.

    On Saturday, the state told the high court it was “working promptly” to ensure Border Patrol has access to a boat ramp at Shelby Park.

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