Did Texas National Guardsmen Block Border Patrol From Saving Drowning Migrants?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The drowning of three migrants in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas, on Friday sparked conflicting reports on the government's response.
What Homeland Security Said: In response to a distress call from Mexican authorities, "Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area," the department said in a statement on Saturday.
What Border Patrol Said: Around 9 p.m. Friday, "Mexican officials advised Border Patrol of two migrants in distress on the US side of the river," a Border Patrol agent wrote this week. "Mexican officials also informed Border Patrol that three migrants – one woman and two children – had drowned at approximately 8:00 p.m. in the same area." An agent then informed the Texas National Guard "of the drowned migrants and the migrants in distress," and "the guardsmen refused to let the Acting Supervisor enter because they had been ordered not to allow Border Patrol access to the park."
What Texas Said: "At no time did Texas Military Department (TMD) security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," the department said.
For Context: Texas and federal officials have sparred for months over immigration enforcement along the southern border.
How the Media Covered It: Some left-rated sources suggested that state policies prevented federal monitoring of the area that could have saved the migrants. Some right-rated reports framed the Border Patrol statement as evidence that they couldn't have prevented the drownings anyway.
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