Border Patrol agents rescue 12 migrants from storm drain system in downtown El Paso
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued twelve migrants from a storm drain system in downtown El Paso on Wednesday.
El Paso Border Patrol Sector Chief Anthony Scott Good said among the migrants was a Mexican family of five.
Agents said the migrants entered the drain west of the Stanton International Bridge.
The El Paso Station’s Confined Space Entry Team responded to the area and entered the storm drain.
Agents discovered twelve migrants who were dressed in black and wet from head to toe, indicating that they had been submerged in water.
Among the group, was a family of five, father, mother and three small children.
The family group were all from Mexico and the remaining migrants were from Ecuador, Honduras and Mexico.
All twelve migrants were screened medically and found to be in good health.
The family group was voluntarily returned to Mexico and the remaining migrants were processed under Title 8.
Good said smugglers often exploit manholes and migrants often get lost and come across chemicals, toxic gases, insects and fast-moving water.
RECOMMENDED: Border Patrol warns about dangers of entering canals in El Paso
RECOMMENDED: Canal rescue leaves 1 man in the hospital
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.