Officers have launched the identification of the Texas Nationwide Guard member who's feared to have drowned after leaping into the river alongside the U.S.-Mexico border to assist two migrants.

Specialist Bishop E. Evans, 22, went lacking in Eagle Move, Texas, on Friday "following his selfless efforts to rescue two migrants who gave the impression to be drowning whereas crossing the river from Mexico into the U.S.," the Texas Army Division (TMD) mentioned in an announcement Sunday.

Evans is a area artilleryman from Arlington assigned to A Battery, 4-133 Area Artillery Regiment in New Braunfels, the division mentioned.

He joined the Texas Military Nationwide Guard in Might 2019. Evans returned to Texas within the fall of 2020 after participating in Operation Spartan Protect in Kuwait.

"Throughout this mobilization his dedication, skills and tactical prowess led his management to commonly assign him to operations in Iraq in help of Particular Operations Forces for brief intervals of time, whereas then rotating again into Kuwait," the division mentioned.

Officers mentioned Evans was assigned to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's controversial border safety mission, often known as Operation Lone Star, that has positioned 1000's of Nationwide Guard troops on the border.

An investigation by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Venture final month revealed that the numbers the state reported as proof of the initiative's success included arrests that had nothing to do with the border.

In the meantime, the 2 migrants that Evans was attempting to rescue have been detained by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the TMD mentioned. In response to the division, authorities imagine they have been concerned in drug trafficking.

The division mentioned a number of companies have been "tirelessly" working to find Evans.

Dive groups have been compelled to halt their search operations on Saturday evening due to the river's sturdy present. Search and rescue operations started once more early on Sunday morning, with assistance from three airboats from the Texas Division of Public Security.

Razor wire lines area near Rio Grande
Razor wire traces the realm close to the Rio Grande river on November 19, 2021 in Eagle Move, Texas. Sergio Flores/AFP through Getty Photos

"The seek for the lacking TMD soldier will proceed till we now have exhausted all out there assets," the division mentioned.

"The TMD is grateful to all interagency companions for his or her continued help on this operation to find our lacking soldier. Our ideas and prayers stay with the household of the soldier."

The TMD, Texas Nationwide Guard and Texas Division of Public Security have been contacted for remark.

Evans' disappearance comes months after a 7-year-old woman from Venezuela drowned whereas trying to cross the Rio Grande.

Officers mentioned in January that they have been notified by a Venezuelan lady that her baby had been swept away by the present whereas they have been crossing the river.