Coast Guard rescues 8 migrant children in Rio Grande after smuggler jumps overboard, abandons them

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight children on the Rio Grande near McAllen on Tuesday.

According to a news release, a 29-foot-response boat crew from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Houston was patrolling the Rio Grande. At 8:30 p.m., they encountered a group of migrants attempting to cross the river in a raft, with one adult "potential smuggler."

_{Rio Grande (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)}

When the Coast Guard crew approached, the smuggler jumped overboard, deflated the raft and swam back to the Mexican side of the river, the release stated.

As the raft began deflating, the Coast Guard crew rescued eight children in the water from the sinking vessel. They were brought ashore before being transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

No injuries were reported.