Texas drone detects armed smuggler guiding immigrants across border.
AUSTIN, Texas — Dramatic Drone Footage Captures Armed Smuggler Leading Migrants Across Rio Grande
In a stunning and rare incident, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Texas Rangers witnessed a human smuggler armed with a longarm guiding a group of immigrants across the treacherous Rio Grande towards the United States border. The incident unfolded in Eagle Pass, where state police were operating their drones and captured the shocking scene.
“Our rangers were operating their drones and they saw this individual guiding a group of migrants across the river,” said Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez during a phone call Thursday.
This marked the first time that state police in Eagle Pass had observed a smuggler carrying a firearm while leading people across the water. Lt. Olivarez expressed his surprise, stating, “It’s rare to see people that are smugglers that are armed. I don’t know if they do that just for protection or to intimidate the migrants as they’re bringing them across.”
The man with the longarm only went halfway across the river before returning to Mexico, leaving the group stranded on an island, awaiting pickup by the U.S. Border Patrol or facing the risky decision to continue their journey across the river.
Not far from this incident, in the Rio Grande Valley region, police had previously reported similar incidents where individuals, armed with handguns, escorted migrants across the Rio Grande. In one particularly alarming case, a smuggler was dressed in full tactical gear and carried a longarm on his body.
The incident occurred in close proximity to where two bodies were recovered from the Rio Grande on the same day. The dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the border were tragically highlighted.
Efforts to Secure the Border
Eagle Pass is also the site where Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) took action to enhance border security. He installed a 1,000-foot-long string of buoys to prevent immigrants from wading across in a shallow area. These measures aim to deter illegal crossings and ensure the safety of both migrants and law enforcement personnel.
As the situation at the border continues to evolve, law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to combat human smuggling and protect the integrity of the United States border.
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