Four immigrants die trying to cross Rio Grande, days after Texas truck deaths

At least four people, including two children, died trying to cross the Rio Grande. Three of the victims—a 37-year old woman, a 15-year old girl and a 16-year old boy—were Guatemalan nationals, according to Guatemalan foreign ministry. The nationality of the fourth victim, an adult woman, has not been confirmed. The victims belonged to a group of undocumented migrants trying to cross into Texas from Mexico.
 
The deaths came days after eight migrants were found dead in the back of a truck in a Walmart parking lot in San Antonio, Texas. Details of the victims in the Texas truck incident are being unveiled; one was a Guatemalan teenager attempting to return to the US after having been deported, while several others were Mexican nationals.
 
Among tighter controls along sections of the 2000-mile US-Mexico border, the Rio Grande is regarded as one of the safest places to cross, since the river is usually shallow enough. However, torrential rain has made the water deeper, making it more likely for people to be submerged when they attempt to cross. In fact, according to a spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection in El Paso, Texas, no matter which avenues smugglers use—crossing the deserts or the canals or checkpoints, crossing borders is always dangerous.
 
The drowning took place on Monday afternoon. Emergency workers rescued seven others, but the search continues for several people who are still unaccounted for.
 
Our Verdict: the number of incidents involving deaths in the Rio Grande has increased comparing with last year’s number, suggesting that despite Trump’s increasingly intolerant rhetoric and actions, more migrants are willing to risk adverse conditions to enter the US. ​