Sept 2 (Reuters) – Eight migrants died and 37 were rescued while trying to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas, US customs officials said on Friday.
Border Patrol agents, along with local fire and police agencies, were searching for possible additional victims a day after Thursday’s incident, Customs and Border Protection spokesman Rick Pauza said. .
A total of 53 migrants were taken into custody by US border patrol agents on Thursday, including the 37 rescued from the river, Pauza said. Mexican government authorities arrested 39 people.
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The Rio Grande has swelled in recent days due to unusually heavy rains that have flooded the streets of Piedras Negras, Mexico. This may interest you : Following the Uvalde shooting, Texas leaders will spend more than $ 100 million on school security, mental health.
Other groups of migrants also struggled Thursday night to cross the river’s fierce currents between Piedras Negras and Eagle Pass.
Several Venezuelan men succeeded after at least an hour of trying to wade the fast waters of the river, bare-chested, with little belongings and with a rope to help others, shouting “Help! Help!” Once close to the coast of the United States.
One man in the group clung to a concrete pillar under the international bridge for minutes after his friends reached the shore, afraid to let go as the water passed until his companions returned to help.
Texas has been at the center of a fierce national debate over illegal immigration that will likely play a role in November’s midterm elections.
Federal and local officials are scrambling to locate about a dozen unaccompanied migrant children after Houston police raised concerns about their whereabouts, Reuters reported on Friday. read more
The deaths and missing children highlight challenges for President Joe Biden’s administration as it faces a record number of unaccompanied children arriving at the southwest border.
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Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Additional reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Edited by William Mallard & Simon Cameron-Moore
Our standards: Thomson Reuters’ principles of trust. To see also : Texas Tribune Executive Director Evan Smith discusses El Paso politics.
Which rivers in Texas have alligators?
In Texas, the American alligator ranges from the Sabine River in East Texas to the Gulf of Mexico through the coastal marshes to the Rio Grande and west to around Interstate 35. To see also : Is the Jaguarundi extinct in the United States?. This range includes approximately 120 contacts with the higher concentrations found along the Gulf Coastal Plains. .
Where are the most alligators found in Texas? American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are common throughout the Texas coastal marshes and prairies ecoregion, being most abundant in the upper Texas coast. Populations also spread inland to freshwater reservoirs along the many river systems.
Which lakes in Texas have alligators?
Alligator-infested lakes in Texas include Lake Lewisville, Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, Caddo Lake, Lake Travis, Lake Livingston, and Lady Bird Lake (also known as Town Lake). Recent rains have driven wildlife from their natural habitats in North Texas recreational lakes.
Which North Texas lakes have alligators?
Alligators are native to the North Texas area and live in various freshwater lakes and rivers, including Lake Worth, Eagle Mountain Lake, and the Trinity River.
Is there alligators in Rio Grande river?
Giant alligators have been released into the Rio Grande to deter migrants from crossing the border river into the United States, Mexican media reported.
Can you swim in the Rio Grande River? Avoid prolonged exposure to river water (ie do not spend long periods of time in the pool) Avoid submerging your head in water. Keep very young children out of the water.
Are there alligators in the Rio Grande in Albuquerque?
Is there alligators in Brownsville Texas?
Alligators, native to the alluvial river delta that forms the Rio Grande Valley, are making a gradual comeback in Brownsville and other parts of Texas where they were hunted for their fur.
Is swimming in the Rio Grande dangerous?
Swimming and even walking in the Rio Grande is dangerous, according to emergency officials. “You never know how fast the river is really flowing,” said Melissa Romero of the Albuquerque Fire Department. Sometimes the water can move so fast that it can kill someone and take the person with it.
Does the Rio Grande have alligators or crocodiles? According to an article published on KGNS, alligators in the Rio Grande are rare, but not that uncommon. Tomo Miller with the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center told the station that these creatures must have reached the Rio Grande from nearby rivers or were abandoned animals.
How deep is the Rio Grande river?
The Rio Grande River is 60 meters deep at its deepest points. The Rio Grande is 60 feet at its deepest points and about 6 to 20 feet at its lowest points. The depth varies throughout the river, depending on the time of year (the river is deeper during the spring than at the end of the summer).
Is there alligators in Brownsville Texas?
Alligators, native to the alluvial river delta that forms the Rio Grande Valley, are making a gradual return to Brownsville and other parts of Texas where they have been hunted for their skins.
Does South Texas have alligators? The American alligator is common in the swamps, rivers, bayous and swamps of the southern United States, including the eastern third of Texas. While they are typically found in freshwater, they can tolerate brackish water as well. Formerly an endangered species, the alligator is now a protected game animal in Texas.
Are there alligators in the Rio Grande Valley?
Richard Moore shows us that the Rio Grande Valley has a thriving population of American alligators. Alligators wake up in south Texas. With the warm weather, the largest reptiles in North America can be seen basking on the banks of streams in the Rio Grande Valley.
