U.S. Border Patrol agents reported Tuesday two bodies of suspected illegal crossers and the skeletal remains of a third person found over the weekend in the Rio Grande Valley Sector.
The body of a woman was found by Kennedy County Sheriff’s deputies in an area known to be used by immigrants attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. McAllen agents found a second body floating in a Mission canal after they received information from a concerned citizen, the release states.
“It’s these types of tragedies that remind us of the extreme callousness of human smugglers,” wrote Sector Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla in the release. “They have no regard for human life and force immigrants to take unnecessary and often deadly risks. They carelessly leave people behind to die if they cannot keep up with the group.”
The skeletal remains of a third person were found near Rivera. The unidentifiable remains were sent to a forensics lab in San Marcos for examination. Autopsies were ordered for the two bodies, which were transported to local funeral homes, the release states.
Padilla also urged immigrants not to jeopardize their lives by illegally entering the country or by attempting to circumvent a checkpoint and to report any stash houses or suspicious activity to their tip line at (800) 863-9382.
