Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents made a grisly discovery on Sunday, June 23, when they found the bodies of three children and a young woman near the Rio Grande in southern Texas, according to local officials.
“Deputies are on scene by the river SE of the Anzalduas Park in Las Paloma Wildlife Management Area where Border Patrol agents located 4 deceased bodies. Bodies appear to be 2 infants, a toddler, and 20yoa female,” Guerra said in his tweet, adding that the FBI is expected to take over and lead the investigation.
No details about their cause of death or identifies have been released.
“There’s a lot of brush. It’s like ranchland; there’s no difference,” Constable Larry Gallardo told the newspaper.
News about the bodies’ discovery came hours after Guerra warned about the dangerously high temperatures in the Brownsville and Rio Grande Valley area.
“Dangerous heat advisory is effective from noon to 8pm today,” Guerra wrote on Twitter. “Avoid outdoor activities but if you can’t please drink plenty of water or sport drinks, use sunscreen and wear light colored clothing.”
In response to the discovery, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in a tweet, “Sadly, this is what happens when infants are used as a ticket to enter the US due to arcane laws.”
“Inaction is not an option,” he added.
“This is a senseless death driven by cartels who are profiting from putting lives at risk,” said Tucson Chief Patrol Agent Roy Villareal. “Our sympathies are with this little girl and her family.”
CBP has repeatedly warned about the dangers of making the trek through Mexico and crossing the southern border illegally into the United States.
“Criminal organizations continue to exploit innocent human lives in order to enhance their illicit activities without due regard to the risks of human life,” the CBP said in a previous statement. “In most cases these smugglers never cross the border themselves in order to avoid apprehension.”
These numbers have overwhelmed the U.S. immigration system, recently prompting President Donald Trump to pressure Mexico to take action to stem the flow of migrants using the country as passage to the United States. Trump announced on May 30 that he would impose a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican goods to stem the influx of illegal immigrants.