Mexican smuggler armed with AR-15 caught leading migrant families across border as Texas officials refuse to remove floating barrier where body was found
- Suspected smuggler was photographed in the river at Eagle Pass
- It is the same part of the border where a floating barrier has been placed
As Democrats mounted calls for a floating barrier of wire buoys to be removed from the Rio Grande following the death of a migrant trying to cross the border, a people smuggler armed with an AR-15 was seen driving a group through the river led.
The man was captured on camera by a drone sent out by the Texas Department of Safety on Wednesday.
He was spotted leading a group of men, women and children through the water, holding his weapon above his head.
The smuggler was filmed near Eagle Pass by a Texas Department of Safety drone on Wednesday
The unknown man is said to be a human smuggler. He returned to Mexico after these photos were taken
The group he led contained at least one child and several women
Texas Rangers UAS (Drone) Operators in Eagle Pass conducted a patrol flight in Shelby Park.
“Operators saw a man with a long gun (possibly an AR platform) lead a group of illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande.
“The unidentified man has returned to Mexico,” Texas Department of Safety Lieutenant Chris Olivarez said of the footage.
They expose the other side of the border debate electrified yesterday with the discovery of a migrant’s body at the controversial floating barrier in Eagle Pass that Texas Governor Greg Abbott is determined to keep.
The body has yet to be identified and Customs and Border Police officers are investigating.
In a statement, a CBP agent said: “This report is heartbreaking and the circumstances should be thoroughly investigated.
The 300-foot barrier consists of large, wire-bound buoys designed to deter migrants from crossing
The barrier is the length of three football fields and is located in Eagle Pass, Texas, a well-known “hot spot” for crosswalks
“It is critical that we manage our border in a safe and humane way that respects the dignity of every human being and keeps our communities safe.
“We can both enforce our laws and treat people with dignity,” a spokesman said.
The Biden administration has appealed to Governor Abbott’s office to have the barrier removed.
They say it is cruel and infringes on the rights of migrants. Mexico also wants the barrier lifted, claiming it also infringes on their sovereignty.
Governor Abbott says it is a necessary tool to stem the flow of illegal migrants arriving in Texas at key access points such as Eagle Pass.
Major General Thomas Suelzer of the Texas Military Department shows a photo of floating barriers on June 8