A driver drowned in the Rio Grande River after fleeing from U.S. Border Patrol agents in Starr County, Texas, according to a statement issued by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of its policy for public notification regarding deaths related to CBP operations.
The incident began on June 27, 2025, at approximately 1:57 a.m., when a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent observed two vehicles leaving the Rio Grande River area about 31 miles northwest of the Rio Grande City Station. One vehicle, described as a white Chevy Tahoe SUV, turned back toward the river upon nearing the marked Border Patrol vehicle. The agent attempted to stop the SUV by activating emergency lights, but the vehicle did not yield and continued toward the water.
By 2 a.m., radio reports indicated that the SUV had entered the Rio Grande River. Agents searched for the driver and at 2:10 a.m., spotted him attempting to swim across to Mexico. According to officials, "the SBPA saw the driver of the vehicle try to swim across the Rio Grande River toward Mexico, observed he was struggling, and requested assistance from fire department personnel via agency radio." The agents lost sight of him soon after.
Assistance arrived at 2:48 a.m. from multiple agencies including Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Starr County Sheriff’s Department, and Salineno Volunteer Fire Department. Authorities recovered the SUV from the river and discovered about 241 pounds of marijuana inside. The marijuana was seized by Border Patrol agents while efforts continued to locate the missing driver.
Later that morning at 10:25 a.m., a fisherman found a body in the river roughly seven miles downstream from where the SUV had entered. The City of Roma Volunteer Fire Department assisted in recovering it. By 7:30 p.m., authorities identified the remains as those of the man seen driving the SUV earlier.
Personnel from Hidalgo County Medical Examiner and Coroner’s office determined time of death was at 10:25 a.m., took custody of the remains, and indicated an autopsy would be conducted as identification efforts continue with help from Texas DPS and Starr County Sheriff’s Department.
"CBP OPR is reviewing this incident," stated officials in their release. "CBP OPR notified the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General."
Customs and Border Protection describes itself as America’s largest law enforcement organization with over 65,000 employees working to secure borders on land, air, and sea.
