Texas 'Physically Barred' Border Patrol from Attempting to Save Migrants Who Drowned

Days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott complained that Texas can’t shoot migrants attempting to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border, three migrants — a woman and two children — drowned in the Rio Grande river while Texas National Guard “physically barred” U.S. Border Patrol from trying to rescue them.

Last week, Texas National Guard took over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, after Abbott granted them “full control” of the park without permission from local officials. Since then, the state guard has prohibited federal authorities from entering the area adjacent to the border.

“Tragically, a woman and two children drowned last night in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was commandeered by the State of Texas earlier this week,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Saturday. “In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area.”