Human TraffickingMigrationNews

US CBP Del Rio Sector agents rescue group of 140 migrants stranded in the Rio Grande

U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Del Rio Sector, assisted by the Eagle Pass Fire Department, rescued a group of 140 migrants stranded on an island on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande River at approximately 3 p.m. on April 3, after a large group of migrants illegally crossed the Rio Grande on a local ranch near Eagle Pass. The group consisted of one Cuban, four Nicaraguans, 66 Colombians, six Dominicans, 32 Peruvians, eight Ecuadorians, seven Hondurans, five Venezuelans, seven from China, and four from Sri Lanka. An extensive breakdown of the group revealed there were 45 single males, 25 single females, 64 family units, and six unaccompanied children. None of the rescued migrants required medical care.

The U.S. Border Patrol categorizes groups of 100 or more as “large groups.” This fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, the Del Rio Sector accounts for over 80 percent of all large groups encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol nationwide.

All migrants were transported to the nearest processing center and processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.