DALLAS — The body of Bishop E. Evans, a Texas Army National Guard specialist reported missing Friday at the U.S.-Mexico border after he jumped into the Rio Grande to save two migrants, was recovered Monday morning.
Elected officials and politicians — including U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, who confirmed the recovery of the body — offered condolences over social media throughout Monday.
“This young soldier made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of protecting and serving our country,” Gonzales said in a written statement. “He will never be forgotten.”
In a written statement, Maj. Gen. Tom Suelzer, adjutant general for Texas, said the Texas National Guard is “devastated by the loss of a member.”
“We recognize the selflessness of this heroic soldier who put his life above others in service to our state and national security,” Suelzer said. “The Texas Military Department sends our deepest condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
Evans, 22, from Arlington, went missing after he tried to save two migrants from drowning in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, the Texas Military Department has said. Eagle Pass is on the border with the Mexican state of Coahuila and is about two hours northwest of Laredo.
Evans was a member of Mansfield High School’s JROTC drill team and graduated in 2018, according to Mansfield ISD spokeswoman Lari Barager.
Evans joined the Texas Army National Guard in May 2019, according to the Texas Military Department, and he served in Kuwait and Iraq. He was a field artilleryman and part of the A Battery, 4-133 Field Artillery Regiment in New Braunfels, according to the department.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing on Monday she did not have any updates on President Joe Biden’s outreach to Evans’ family.
“We know that national guard personnel, including (Evans), risk their lives everyday to serve and protect others and again, our hearts go out to his family,” she said.
In a written statement Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thanked the agencies that were involved in the search and asked that Texans pray for Evans’ family and friends.
“We are heartbroken to learn of the death of SPC Bishop E. Evans who was reported missing in Eagle Pass on Friday,” Abbott said. “Our National Guard soldiers risk their lives every day to serve and protect others, and we are eternally grateful for the way SPC Evans heroically served his state and country.”
Evans was at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star, an initiative launched in March 2021 that Abbott has described as an effort to stop the flow of migrants from illegally entering the country through the U.S.-Mexico border. He has said he would expand the operation in response to Biden’s plan to end Title 42, a Trump-era policy used to turn away migrants during the coronavirus pandemic.
The operation, which has been criticized by civil rights groups and Abbott’s political opponents, involves the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard.
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