EAGLE PASS, Texas (KVEO) — The Texas Military Department is constant its search for a lacking National Guard soldier that tried to save migrants from drowning alongside the Rio Grande.
On Friday, the Texas Military Department issued a press release relating to a soldier who had gone lacking whereas working alongside the river as a part of Operation Lone Star throughout a mission-related incident in Eagle Pass.
Authorities later mentioned the soldier went lacking after they “selflessly attempted to help two migrants who appeared to be drowning” as they crossed the river from Mexico to the United States. Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber mentioned the rescue try occurred close to Eagle Pass at a bit of the river recognized for robust currents.
“He jumped in the river,” Schmerber mentioned. “They never saw him come out.”
The two migrants had been later decided to have been concerned in illicit transnational narcotics trafficking. Both at the moment are within the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The Texas Military Department notified the household of the lacking soldier Friday night. TMD expressed its help, saying, “our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the soldier.”
Additional information, together with the title of the soldier, is anticipated to be launched at a later date. The search for the lacking soldier will proceed till all accessible assets have been exhausted, in accordance to TMD.
The Guard member was assigned to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s sprawling border safety mission, often called Operation Lone Star, which has deployed hundreds of Guard members throughout Texas’ 1,200-mile (1,920-kilometer) southern border since launching final 12 months. The multibillion-dollar operation additionally features a heavy presence of state troopers and authorizes Guard members to assist make arrests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
