Immigrants drown trying to cross Rio Grande illegally

At least nine people died over the weekend attempting to swim across the U.S. southern border. The Border Patrol said it rescued 37 people from the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, Texas. Rains raised the river level from 3 feet to 5 feet and multiplied the strength of the current. A chief patrol agent said groups of 100 to 200 people continue to attempt the crossing despite the dangerous conditions. The area near Eagle Pass has become one of the busiest portions of the border in recent months.

What’s in Eagle Pass? Migrants say drug cartels are less active in that sector, making it safer for them to attempt to cross. Agents stopped migrants nearly 50,000 times in the area in July.

Dig deeper: Read Addie Offereins’ report in Compassion about the Biden administration’s border policy.