Migrant woman drowns in canal, leaves 3 children

By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 09/28/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT

Despite rescue efforts by the Border Patrol and the El Paso Fire Department, a female migrant drowned Thursday morning in the American Canal west of the Bridge of the Americas, Border Patrol officials said.

Officials with the Mexican Consulate in El Paso said the victim was Irma Rios Rodriguez, 34, from Veracruz. She is survived by three girls, ages 11, 8 and 2, said consulate spokeswoman Socorro Cordova.

She was the 26th migrant to die in the El Paso sector since Oct. 1, 2006, the beginning of the fiscal year. During the same span, Border Patrol agents conducted 112 rescues.

About 6:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents spotted four people going into the canal, 1.4 miles west of the Bridge of the Americas. One person fled north across the Border Highway and was not found. Two women were detained, and another woman stayed behind in the canal.

Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said Border Patrol agents threw a rope to her and two agents went in the water to try to rescue her. She disappeared under the water. Firefighters pulled out the body from a canal overpass and initiated CPR, but they could not revive her.

Louie Gilot may be reached at lgilot@elpasotimes.com; 546-6131.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_7021122