MARFA, Texas — More than a dozen abandoned migrants were recently rescued from the rugged terrain near the Texas-Mexico border.
Border Patrol agents received a distress call on Nov. 16 after multiple migrants and several children were found in what officials described as an "extremely remote" area of Big Bend National Park.
Officials said the 13 migrants were found near San Vicente Crossing Road following a 911 call after being abandoned by human smugglers. However, despite the rough terrain, all the migrants were rescued and found in good condition.
Big Bend National Park spans more than 800,000 acres, making it one of the largest national parks in the country. The area's Border Patrol sector covers more than 500 miles of the Rio Grande and has experienced migrant issues in the past.
Most recently, more than 200 migrants were taken into custody inside Big Bend National Park between Nov. 25, 2021, and Dec. 1, 2021. The area lends itself to extreme heat and cold nights, along with a lack of water, which makes for life-threatening conditions.
"This rescue highlights the indifference smuggling organizations have for human life,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Marco Cervantes. "This journey is especially perilous for children, who are often placed in life-threatening situations without adequate food, water or shelter."
Cervantes added that the rescue is a reminder that smugglers don't care about human lives and only profits. Border Patrol said many migrants, including families with children, get lured onto the journey by human smugglers who make false promises of an easy journey, only to be abandoned in the treacherous environment.
