EAGLE PASS, Texas — The recent deaths of a woman and two children near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass is sparking discussion from local congressmen.
This comes after U.S. Border Patrol agents were kicked out of the park earlier this week by the Texas National Guard. Congressman Cuellar says border patrol agents should have never been kicked out of the park.
"They (U.S. Border Patrol) they didn't want to escalate the situation, but they should have stood their ground," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said Governor Greg Abbott ordered the guard to remove Border Patrol from the park. The park sits near the Rio Grande River, and is a known crossing point for migrants. The guard kicked out border patrol along with their equipment.
Congressman Cuellar said Friday night, Border Patrol agents learned a group of 6 migrants were in distress as they tried to cross the river. Cuellar says agents tried calling DPS, Texas Military Officers, and the Texas National Guard, but didn't get an answer, so they sent agents to the gate.
"They explained what the situation was, and they said sorry, not even under an emergency can we let Border Patrol in. We'll go ahead and investigate," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said on Saturday, Mexican authorities found 3 bodies.
"A mother, a 8-year-old little girl, and a 10-year-old boy," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said he believes the state bears responsibility for the deaths. He said Border Patrol agents have equipment which helps them monitor the river, and that equipment could have been useful in aiding the migrants rescue.
"I think they would have been able to dispatch Border Patrol, and maybe save some lives," said Cuellar.
Cuellar said there are lessons to be learned.
"Number one, the state should have never kicked out Border Patrol. There are no exceptions to that. They're suppose to be there at the border, so the state should have never kicked them out from there, along with their equipment. Second of all, I think the administration needs to do a better job of making sure that they take this pull factor, because people still think that all they have to do is get to the river banks and they can ask for asylum, which is what's happening and that needs to stop. The Mexicans need to do a better job at their southern border, to stop people coming into the U.S. If you notice in December we had 10,000-12,000 people crossing a day, now it went down to 2,800 to 3,100 a day, and that's because the Mexicans are doing their job on the other side. Finally to the migrants, please don't put yourself in this dangerous situation, especially if you have kids," said Cuellar.
Congressman Joaquin Castro issued a statement.
“This is what Operation Lone Star looks like on the ground. Texas officials blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from doing their job and allowed two children to drown in the Rio Grande. Governor Abbott’s inhumanity has no limit. Everyone who enables his cruelty has blood on their hands.”
On Friday the Federal Government filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court. The petition is asking the court to grant border patrol the right to get back to their position in the park.
KENS 5 did also reach out to Governor Greg Abbott's Office for comment on the deaths. He tweeted Sunday night sharing a release from the Texas Military Department disputing the accuracy of claims they prevented rescue efforts.
"Claims that TMD prevented Border Patrol from saving the lives of drowning migrants are wholly inaccurate," officials said. "At the time that Border Patrol requested access, the drownings had occurred, Mexican Authorities were recovering the bodies, and Border Patrol expressed these facts to the TMD personnel on site."
This is a developing story.