One migrant lost his life and at least seven others were injured in the city of El Paso, Texas, after being abandoned by human smugglers, known as coyotes, inside a storm drain in the middle of an intense storm. Authorities described the incident as one of the most serious tragedies recorded this year on the southern border.
El Paso Border Patrol Chief Walter Slosar confirmed the incident Tuesday night, noting that the group had been guided into a subway drainage system with the promise of reaching U.S. territory undetected by immigration agents. However, heavy rains caused the channel to suddenly swell, trapping the victims under the torrent.
Migrants are abandoned in a drain in Texas
One migrant dies and seven are injured after being abandoned in a storm drain in Texas https://t.co/n3qKAQfjBu
– Aristegui Noticias (@AristeguiOnline) October 8, 2025
“These criminal groups continue to use cruel and extremely dangerous tactics, with no regard for human life,” Slosar stated.
“For years we have seen coyotes cross people through storm drains and border tunnels, and once again, this has ended in tragedy.”
The El Paso Fire Department responded to the emergency around 3:30 a.m. after receiving a call reporting cries for help coming from a storm drain on the east side of the city.
Rescue teams located the lifeless body of an adult male and managed to extract seven more people alive, who showed signs of hypothermia, dragging injuries and lack of oxygen.
Four of the survivors were taken to nearby hospitals in serious condition, while the other three received medical attention at the scene.
So far, authorities have not revealed the identities or nationalities of the victims, although it is presumed that they are originally from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, countries from which there has been an increase in crossings through the El Paso area.
The danger of clandestine routes
The event adds to a string of recent human trafficking-related tragedies in Texas, a state where coyotes have diversified their routes in the face of military reinforcement and border walls pushed by the current Donald Trump Administration.
According to Border Patrol data, in the last fiscal year alone more than 900 migrants have lost their lives attempting to cross the southern border, mainly due to asphyxiation, dehydration or drowning.
Authorities recalled that El Paso’s storm drains connect to the Rio Grande River drainage system and can fill up in a matter of minutes during a storm, becoming death traps for those attempting to cross them.
Slosar asked the Hispanic community not to trust human smugglers, who charge thousands of dollars for illegal crossings, often abandoning migrants to their fate.
“Every time someone pays a coyote, they are putting their life in the hands of criminals who have no respect for human life,” he warned.
Increasing context
El Paso, one of the main gateways for migrants entering the United States, has faced an increase in crossings in recent months, especially after the reactivation of joint operations between ICE, the Border Patrol and the Texas National Guard.
In recent weeks, storms have aggravated the situation by turning desert areas and canals into high-risk routes.
The Border Patrol reported that the case of immigrants abandoned in a Texas storm drain remains under federal investigation, while efforts are underway to locate the coyotes responsible for the abandonment.
Durante años hemos visto cómo los coyotes cruzan a personas por los desagües pluviales y túneles fronterizos, y una vez más, esto ha terminado en tragedia
Walter Slosar
Filed under: Immigrants abandoned in Texas storm drain
