BREAKING: Rescue crews search Rio Grande for illegal immigrant (6:46 a.m.)
Sun-News report
Article Launched: 02/29/2008 06:51:08 AM MST


EL PASO — El Paso Fire Department water rescue crews were searching Friday morning for one of several illegal immigrants who dove into the Rio Grande early this morning to escape pursuing Border Patrol agents, emergency dispatchers reported.

According to radio transmission reports, emergency crews spotted the group of immigrants in a canal adjacent to the Asarco plant at about 3 a.m.

Several of the immigrants were pulled from the water, but one did not surface.

Fire department divers were sent to the scene, but were not able to immediately locate the person.

At about 5:15 a.m., Border Patrol agents spotted the man inside a tunnel near the Hacienda flood gates and called for assistance.

The condition of the immigrant was not immediately known.

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