see also: in June 2005 Press Releases:   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Trains Dogs to Detect Drugs and Humans   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize 132 Pounds of Cocaine, 134 Pounds of Heroin in Coffee Cans   CBP Border Patrol Arrests Murder Suspect Using Anti-Terror Technology   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Seizes Thousands of Illegal Fireworks   CBP Officers Find Marijuana After Sentri Participant Absconds from Car   CBP Border Patrol Agents Seize 261 Pounds Of Ecstasy   United States' Schmitz is Elected to Director at the World Customs Organization ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Brownsville, Texas – On June 12, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents monitoring a Remote Video Surveillance System (RVSS Camera) observed a young girl carrying a small child on her back attempting to cross the Rio Grande River at a weir dam approximately 5 miles west of Brownsville, Texas. The agent saw that the young girl was struggling with the current and advised agents and the Brownsville Fire Department to respond. Agents at the scene observed the girl stopped mid river as she was afraid to continue due to the swift moving current. Agents advised her that the Fire Department was enroute to assist them and asked her to remain calm.

The Brownsville Fire Department responded and utilized a swift water rope technique to facilitate the rescue. Two firemen entered the river and rescued both of the aliens. The young girl and the child were checked by EMS for injuries and released to the custody of the Border Patrol. They were identified as a 17-year-old female and a 5-year-old boy from Honduras. This rescue marks a total of 78 aliens rescued in The Rio Grande Valley Sector for fiscal year 2005. Video is available of this rescue upon request.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.