Migrant mom, 2 children die in Rio Grande

A migrant woman and her two children drowned attempting to cross the Rio Grande into Texas.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) announced Friday’s tragic incident in a press release and also complained that state officials denied federal agents access to a park near the river when they arrived to look for the family, according to Border Report.

“This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility,” Cuellar said.

“Border Patrol was unable to render aid to the migrants and attempt to save them.”

Cuellar said the woman and children were caught in the river’s currents by Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, adding U.S. Border Patrol agents could not help them because Texas Department of Public Safety troopers blocked access to the park earlier in the week.

He said that around 9 p.m. Friday, Border Patrol agents learned that six migrants were in distress in the river.

He said they attempted to contact the Texas Military Department, Texas National Guard, and other state authorities by telephone, but were unsuccessful.

The agents eventually met up with members of the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard at the Shelby Park entrance gate and told them the border crossers were in trouble, according to Cuellar.

He said the Texas Military Department soldiers would not grant the agents access to the migrants — even in such an emergency — and that they would send a soldier to investigate.

However, on Saturday, the three migrant bodies were recovered by Mexican authorities, the congressman said.

The state Justice Department on Friday asked to U.S. Supreme Court to order Texas to stop blocking access to the 50-acre park, according to Border Report.

When asked about the incident, a spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Biden’s reckless open border policies.”