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U.S. Customs and Border Protection

MCALLEN (News Release) - On August 21, 2021, at approximately 4:30 AM, a Border Patrol Agent assigned to the McAllen Station observed several suspected undocumented migrants running away from the border after having climbed over a levee wall approximately 1,000 feet into the United States in an area one-half mile northwest of the McAllen-Hidalgo International Port of Entry. The local area is protected by a levee wall that separates the flood plain along the river from the city of Hidalgo. While the levee wall is over 20 feet tall on the river side, it is only capped by a four foot chain link fence on the Hidalgo side. A second Border Patrol Agent responded to the area to attempt to apprehend the migrants who were seen running away from the levee wall towards Hidalgo when he observed two females attempting to climb over the chain link portion of the levee wall. He immediately responded and helped them over the top of the fence. At that point the Border Patrol Agent reportedly observed two additional females who had fallen off the levee wall and landed over 20 feet below on the river side.   

Border Patrol Agents immediately responded to assist the females and radioed for medical assistance. One of the two females who fell, a citizen of Honduras, was unresponsive. The Border Patrol Agents administered CPR to her until relieved by local Emergency Medical Services. EMS transported both females to a hospital in McAllen. After arriving at the hospital, the unresponsive female was pronounced deceased.

The Hidalgo Police Department, the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner and Coroner’s Office, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, and CBP OPR are reviewing this incident. The DHS Office of Inspector General was also notified.