see also: in November 2004:   Know Before You Go   Know Before You Visit   European Union and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Adopt Measures to Strengthen Maritime Container Security   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Seize Over 5 Tons of Marijuana In Five-Day Period Along Southwest Border   Global Milestone Reached with 32 Operational CSI Ports   CBP Border Patrol Agents Rescue Large Group of Migrants Abandoned in Railroad Container ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas- On November 25, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station were patrolling the river banks of the Rio Grande when they noticed three individuals attempting to cross the river near the Laredo Water Treatment Facility. The family of three, father, mother and baby of less than a year old, were attempting to cross, when at midpoint they panicked and began to scream for help. Upon hearing their distress call, Laredo South Station Border Patrol Agents responded to assist.

Due to the strong water current and depth of the river, agents used Border Safety equipment and immediately deployed a rescue disk to establish a physical line of contact with the family. The mother grasped the rescue disk and the agents were able to pull her to safety. Agents immediately re-deployed the disk to the father who was still in the river holding both the baby and a small backpack.

The father, whose hands were occupied, was unable to grasp the rescue disk. The agents told the male subject to discard his backpack, but he refused. At this point, he lost his footing and went under along with the baby, both re-surfaced after a few seconds. Having witnessed this, one of the agents removed his shirt and belt, entered the river and was able to assist the pair to the safety of the riverbanks. When they reached the riverbank, the rescuing agent immediately inverted the infant to clear any water the child might have had in its airway, soon thereafter, the infant began to cry. The baby and family were turned over to EMS and taken to a local hospital. The subjects were later released into Border Patrol custody for processing.

“This is an example of the commitment and dedication that Border Patrol Agents have in protecting the sanctity of human life. Their diligence and quick actions prevented any further injury to the baby and parents”, said Chief John W. Montoya of the Laredo Sector Border Patrol.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the protection of our nation’s borders. CBP unified Customs, Immigration and Agriculture Inspectors and the Border Patrol into one border agency for the United States.