HIDALGO COUNTY - A spike in the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border at Anzalduas Park is putting a strain on Hidalgo County Precinct 3 deputy constables.
Arresting illegal immigrants is not part of their assigned duties, but they're doing it to keep the park safe, officials said.
Officials said the park has become a hot spot for illegal crossings. The spike in crossings forced the constable's office to reassign deputies to confront and detain immigrants until federal agents arrive.
CHANNEL 5 NEWS captured video of seven illegal immigrants, including four children, on a raft. They were making their way from Mexico to the United States.
Posted: Mar 27, 2014 6:31 PM
Updated: Mar 27, 2014 6:31 PM
krgv.com
The immigrants could see the lawman on the U.S. side. Still, the group crossed the river and landed at Anzalduas Park. They approached the deputy constable and surrendered.
"We've seen just a drastic change in the number of aliens that are coming across," Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Constable Sgt. Dan Broyles.
"They come across on rafts. They have no regard for our presence or our authority or Border Patrol," Broyles said.
Broyles said their primary focus is the safety of those who enter Anzalduas Park legally.
Broyles said they never imagined the constable's office would have to deal with illegal-immigrant crossings.
"It's taking away from our primary duties. Our deputy spends more time now making sure that these suspected aliens are contained in a certain area where Border Patrol can apprehend and confirm their citizenship," Broyles said.
Broyles said there are safety risks for the deputies and park visitors.
"We don't know what they're capable of. It's an obvious officer-safety problem. If there is a violent issue it pertains to the safety of the patrons of our park," Broyles said.
Broyles said deputies have limited or no immigration training because that's not what they enforce.
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