Less than three years ago, Specialist Bishop Evans joined the Texas Army National Guard to protect and defend his fellow citizens.  Early Friday morning, last week, the 22-year-old native of Arlington, TX, disappeared beneath the waters of the Rio Grande as he attempted to rescue a group of illegal migrants struggling against its treacherous currents.  Over three days, search and rescue teams scoured the area at Eagle Pass, a stretch of river known for its uneven riverbed with unexpected eight foot drops.  According to the local sheriff, the bodies of as many as two migrants a week are often found dead on its shores.  On Monday, Evans’ body was finally recovered.  National Guard members carried the young hero on a flag-draped stretcher, while comrades raised their arms in solemn salute.

The Texas Military Department reports that two of the illegal migrants Evans dove into the water to rescue are now in custody on suspicion of “illicit transnational narcotics trafficking.”  Customs and Border Protection reports that, last month, illegal crossings into the United States hit a 22 year high, with 221,303 migrant encounters.  Despite the ongoing crisis, the Biden administration is determined to discard the emergency COVID rules that have barred migration and stemmed an even larger tide.  Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, tells ABC News, he expects “complete chaos.”  Securing the already overwhelmed border against the impending deluge will be “impossible.”