Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol agents rescued a migrant that was stuffed inside the trunk of a vehicle that was ditched in a river by smugglers on Tuesday.
If it were not for their swift action, the migrant would have been killed by the smuggler’s actions.
Before the rescue, a Rio Grande City camera operator saw multiple people loading into a Ford Fusion near the Rio Grande in Roma.
“The vehicle departed the area only to drive into the Rio Grande after encountering responding agents,” the agency said in a press release. “The driver and three passengers exited the partially submerged vehicle and swam into Mexico.”
The border patrol agents apprehended one passenger and rescued a the migrant from inside the closed trunk.
Neither the apprehended subject nor the migrant from the trunk required additional medical services.
That was not the only migrant whose life was saved by Border Patrol agents this week.
On October 24, just before midnight, Harlingen Border Patrol Station agents interdicted a group of 12 migrants near Los Indios, Texas, the agency said in the press release.
“Upon encountering the group, the migrants dispersed in different directions,” the agency said. “While searching the area, an agent and his K9 partner located a subject lying face down and unresponsive.”
The statement continued, “Emergency Medical Service (EMS) was requested and agents initiated chest compressions. As agents performed life saving measures, the subject opened his eyes and gasped for air. The agents carried the unstable subject through thick brush to an access road where an ambulance arrived, and a paramedic assessed the migrant. The man was transported to a hospital for further evaluation and treatment of a possible stroke.”
“I am very proud of our RGV Sector workforce who works tirelessly to safeguard the U.S. against all threats, while at the same time always ready to respond to emergency situations. Great job team!” Rio Grande Valley Sector Chief Gloria Chavez said in a statement.