Bishop Evans, who was missing three days before search crews found his body Monday, was among the more than 6,100 guard members stationed on the border as part of Republican Gov. The mission has 43 flotation devices for guard members who are assigned to boat missions, Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer said. Suelzer said that since Evans' death, guard members have been instructed not to go in the water unless they have special training. Migrant rescues by Border Patrol are common along Texas' 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) border with Mexico. Abbott gave guard members unusual authority last year to detain and arrest migrants, but most on the mission are assigned to observation posts.

Source: The Nation April 28, 2022 04:21 UTC