Border Patrol boat, via CBP

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Border Patrol has rescued about 450 people in the Houston area in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

John Morris, chief of staff in South Texas, told the Associated Press that agents “absolutely 100% here for rescue and safety” and are not enforcing immigration laws. 

Morris said Border Patrol deployed 35 boats to navigate the flooded streets. The boats came from stations along the Rio Grande.

The agency drew criticism for failing to suspend highway checkpoints in Texas as the storm was moving across the state.

By Steve Neavling

Two Border Patrol agents were injured Sunday evening when their agency boat and another boat collided on the Rio Grande outside of Anzaldaus Park in Mission, Texas, KRGV reports. 

Both agents were taken to the hospital, one by air, one by ambulance.

“First is the agents’ safety. We want to make sure they’re okay. We want to make sure they have medical attention,” said Chris Cabrera, Border Patrol Union Vice President. Obviously we have some already in the hospital. We want to make sure any injuries that haven’t come up yet get attended to. The other thing is their mental well being….make sure they have somebody to talk to if  need be. Service is really good at making sure the agents have somebody to talk to. However sometimes the agents don’t want to let their guard down until they get around their peers so sometimes we talk to them and make sure they’re ok in that aspect.”

A Border Patrol spokesman said more information will become available Monday.

Steve Neavling

Not even 39-foot-high speed boats with 1,200 horsepower is enough for Border Patrol to hunt down all smugglers along the U.S. coast 36 miles north of Tijuana, Mexico, Fox News reports.

Agents are now asking for local residents to help in the hunt.

“We are actively pursuing this and we are asking for the public’s help because we can’t be everywhere,” agent Edward Cleary said during a Del Mar City Council meeting on Jan. 14, according to The Coast News.

The feds need more eyes looking out for boats that drop off drugs along the coast to getaway trucks, Fox News wrote.

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