by Jessica GonzalezThursday, June 21st 2018

EL PASO, Texas — Four people who entered the country illegally nearly drowned before they were rescued by Border Patrol agents.

Just after midnight Wednesday, Border Patrol agents watched a group of seven people cross illegally into the U.S. through downtown El Paso, officials said.

The group then went into the American Canal near the Bridge of the Americas. Border Patrol officials said the canal system is dangerous because of its strong undercurrents.

Agents then saw three people from the group climb out from the south side of the canal and run back into Mexico. The remaining three men and one juvenile struggled to stay afloat, officials said.

Agents used their training to rescued the four people from the canal with ropes. Officials said none of the immigrants were seriously injured. The men were taken into custody to be processed for entering the country illegally. The juvenile was sent back to Mexico, according to Border Patrol officials.

During fiscal year 2018, U.S. Border Patrol agents in the El Paso Sector have rescued 25 immigrants in distress and have witnessed zero immigrant deaths. In fiscal year 2017, eight illegal crossers lost their lives in these same treacherous waterways.

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