8 drown, 37 rescued as 92 migrants attempt to cross the Rio Grande

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Sep 15:21

The US Customs and Border Patrol confirms that a total of 92 migrants attempted to cross the Rio Grande river from Mexico over to the US.

Migrants crossing the Rio Grande river (Reuters)

The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) confirmed on Friday that at least eight migrants drowned while dozens were rescued after having attempted to cross the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass, Texas on Thursday from Mexico into the United States.

According to CBP, 37 people were rescued, but "part of the rescue mission also led to the discovery of eight deceased migrants, two found by the Government of Mexico and six by (US) agents," adding that "The search continues for other possible victims."

The group that attempted to migrate through the river was much larger than that with 92 people detained in total. 39 of them were detained on the Mexican side of the river while 53 were detained on the US side.

While the CBP did not offer any information regarding the ages or nationalities of the migrants, an official did inform the Washington Post, citing government data, that mass drownings have worsened over the past year with over 50,000 migrants detained last month across the Rio Grande River.

According to Manuel Mello, the city's fire chief, the migrants were swept off by powerful currents approximately a mile south of the International Bridge connecting Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Mexico.

Recent mass migration fatalities have brought attention to the risky route that hundreds of thousands of migrants undergo each year as they attempt to cross from Mexico to the United States noting that approximately the rate of death by drowning has increased in recent months to reach one migrant per day.

Near San Antonio, Texas, over 50 individuals passed away in June after being left in a sweltering trailer.