Nine people died attempting to cross the Rio Grande last Thursday near Eagle Pass, Texas. The fatal outcome occurred just as the water level had risen more than two feet (about 60 centimeters) due to heavy rains throughout the week. In addition, 53 illegal immigrants were detained trying to enter the country through the same river, 37 of them had to be rescued in the middle of crossing.
Three of the deceased were found by Mexican authorities and the other six by U.S. agents. Authorities partnered with the Eagle Pass Fire Department and the Maverick County Sheriff's Office to search for more possible victims.
On the other side of the river, Mexican authorities detained another 39 people. These entry attempts by irregular migrants are taking place against the backdrop of one of the country's biggest border crises.
Migration crisis
4,900,000 people have entered the country illegally since Joe Biden has been president. This was stated in a report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The figure includes the 3.4 million immigrants registered by the Border Patrol and another 900,000 fugitives who entered the country undetected, according to FAIR who cited sources at the immigration enforcement agency.
A few weeks ago, it became known that the U.S. -Mexico border is the deadliest land crossing in the world. This is the conclusion of the latest report from the United Nations International Organization for Migration. In 2021, more than 1,238 lives were lost during migration in the Americas. At least 728 of these deaths occurred at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing.
"The number of deaths at the U.S.-Mexico border last year is significantly higher than in any previous year, even before Covid-19," says Edwin Viales, author of the report. Of those killed, at least 51 were children, the pro-immigration organization said.
