3 migrants drowned after state allegedly blocked Border Patrol from reaching them

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WASHINGTON — Three migrants — a woman and two children — drowned in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass on Friday night after Texas National Guard soldiers blocked Border Patrol agents from reaching them, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

State officials had seized a 2½-mile stretch of the border earlier this week, an unprecedented state takeover that the Justice Department says prevents Border Patrol agents from reaching even migrants in need of emergency assistance. DHS, which includes Border Patrol, said in a statement late Saturday that agents trying to respond to a distress call were "physically barred" from the area by Texas officials.

“Tragically, a woman and two children drowned in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was commandeered by the State of Texas earlier this week," the statement said. "The Texas governor’s policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas’s blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrol’s enforcement of U.S. law.”

The Texas Military Department said in a statement that soldiers alerted by Border Patrol agents "actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles" and did not find any migrants. The agency said soldiers saw a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexico side of the river and reported it back to Border Patrol, who confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not need additional assistance.

"At no time did 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 statement said. "Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation.

Gov. Greg Abbott's office directed questions to the military department.

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