Hundreds of Border Patrol agents aided in the rescue of nearly 300 people from heavy floods caused by torrential rain in the Rio Grande Valley.
Working closely with the San Antonio Fire Department, the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley Sector special operations unit helped rescue some trapped individuals from flooded homes and transport distressed or stranded people to safety, KSAT network reported Friday.
The rain subsided in the Rio Grande Valley by Friday, but the Border Patrol’s efforts were ongoing.
Chief Patrol Agent Manuel Padilla said CBP focused on keeping the local community safe during the storms and is continuing to support people affected by the flooding by deploying more special units to those areas.
Border Patrol officials told Valley Central network that agents were not seeking information from rescued individuals regarding citizenship status and that residents and persons in distress should not hesitate to contact authorities for emergency assistance. Officials said agents were specifically responding with lifesaving measures and were not enforcing immigration laws.
