DEVELOPING: Texas National Guard Member Missing After Attempting to Rescue Migrants on U.S.-Mexico Border
A member of the Texas National Guard has gone missing while attempting to rescue a group of migrants crossing the Rio Grande along the Southern border, it was reported on Friday morning.
According to Fox News reporter Bill Melugin the the event occurred in Eagle Pass, Texas, and comes after a week of heavy border crossing along the Rio Grande river, with strong currents making the journey extremely dangerous.
Melugin tweeted, “BREAKING: Multiple sources tell me a Texas National Guard soldier has just drowned in the Rio Grande here in Eagle Pass while trying to save migrants in the water. Texas DPS confirms, and tells me a body has been recovered. I’m told a statement will be coming out soon.”
BREAKING: Multiple sources tell me a Texas National Guard soldier has just drowned in the Rio Grande here in Eagle Pass while trying to save migrants in the water. Texas DPS confirms, and tells me a body has been recovered. I’m told a statement will be coming out soon. @FoxNews
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 22, 2022
According to the Texas Military Department, the soldier was assigned to Operation Lone Star, an initiative established by Texas Governor Greg Abbott as a joint effort between the state’s department of public safety and military to counteract illegal border crossings.
The identity of the soldier is unknown at this time.
The Texas Military Department has released a statement saying:
A Texas Army National Guard Soldier assigned to Operation Lone Star has gone missing along the river during a mission related incident, Friday April 22, 2022 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Soldier has not been found. We are aware of reports of a fatality, although those reports are inaccurate. The Texas Military Department, Texas DPS and Border Patrol are working rapidly to find the Soldier. More details will be released as they become available.
Correction: A previous version of this article said that Fox News reported that the body of the soldier had been found. The Texas Army National Guard has reported that they are still actively searching for the missing soldier — the body has not yet been found.
