A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande; The Texas government would have prevented them from providing aid, asserting national security

(CNN) — The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Saturday that a woman and her two children drowned in the Rio Grande River Friday night while trying to enter the United States. Migrants died in the Shelby Park area of ​​Eagle Pass, where the Texas government blocked access to Border Patrol agents.

“In response to a distress call from the government of Mexico, Border Patrol agents were physically prevented from entering the area by Texas officials,” a Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement. “The policies of the governor of Texas are cruel, dangerous and inhumane, and Texas’ blatant disregard for federal immigration authority poses serious risks.”

The incident may have been previously reported by Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar on his X account. “This is a tragedy and it is the state’s responsibility,” Cuellar said in X,

Formerly known as Twitter.

According to Cueller, the Border Patrol learned that a group of six migrants were in danger in the Rio Grande around 9 p.m. Friday.

The Border Patrol telephoned the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Public Safety but were “unsuccessful” in relaying the information, Cuellar said in the post. Federal agents then physically went to the Shelby Park gate, set up by Texas authorities, to provide information, according to Cuellar.

“However, Texas Military Department troopers said they would not allow immigrants access — even in an emergency — and would send a trooper to investigate the situation,” Cuellar said in X.

Early Saturday morning, Mexican authorities recovered the bodies of three migrants, Cuellar said.

Border Patrol blockaded Shelby Park, an urban park near the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, since Wednesday night, as Texas authorities erected fences, gates and barbed wire to take custody and control of the park and adjacent areas of the Rio Grande, CNN previously reported.

“As a result, the Border Patrol was unable to provide assistance to the immigrants and attempt to rescue them,” Cuellar said in X.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration complained to the US Supreme Court that Texas has effectively blocked agents’ access to a key part of the US-Mexico border. On Saturday, the state told the high court it was “working expeditiously” to ensure US Border Patrol agents had access to the boat ramp at Shelby Park.

Governor Greg Abbott’s office and the Texas Department of Public Safety referred CNN to the Texas National Guard for more information. The Texas Military Department did not respond to requests for comment Saturday.

“We are saddened by the tragic drowning of migrants in Eagle Pass,” a Customs and Border Protection spokesman said in a written statement. “We are gravely concerned about actions that prevent the United States Border Patrol from carrying out its essential mission of apprehending people entering the United States illegally and providing humanitarian response to those in need.”