Photos from a Border Patrol ride-along where no illegal immigrants could be found

By Anna Giaritelli | Graeme Jennings

February 13, 2025 6:30 am

The Washington Examiner has reported from the border on dozens of occasions since 2018, but in a first, its staff did not witness a single immigrant attempt to cross the Rio Grande while on a predawn into late morning ride-along with Border Patrol.

The number of illegal immigrant arrests across the entire southern border has dropped to historically low levels since President Donald Trump took office in January.

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Even under the cover of darkness, which has historically been the most popular time of the day for Mexican cartels to push immigrants across the river, the Rio Grande sat silent.

The photo story below was captured by Washington Examiner photographer Graeme Jennings and showcases the state of the border in South Texas on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Predawn sights

The border wall near McAllen, Texas. In his first term, President Donald Trump installed sections of the wall that are 30 feet high in parts.

Texas National Guard soldiers at a port of entry in Hidalgo, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

The Texas-Mexico border in Hidalgo, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

The Texas-Mexico border in Hidalgo, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Border Patrol agent Andres Garcia, a public affairs official for the Rio Grande Valley, drives alongside a section of the border wall in McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Under morning light

The Texas-Mexico border. Migrants must hike through dense brush and vegetation that stretches several hundred feet from the riverbank of the Rio Grande. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Bracelets discarded by migrants at the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. The bracelets are used by smugglers to track how much money each person owes the cartels. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

The Texas-Mexico border. Migrants must hike through dense brush and vegetation that stretches several hundred feet from the riverbank of the Rio Grande. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Border Patrol agent Andres Garcia near the Rio Grande in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Bracelets and a teddy bear were discarded by migrants at the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. The bracelets are used by smugglers to track how much money each person owes the cartels. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Border Patrol agent Andres Garcia near the Rio Grande in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

A Border Patrol vehicle near the Rio Grande in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

River excursion

Border Patrol agents in riverine boats on the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Texas Department of Public Safety officers on a riverine boat on the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Border Patrol agents in riverine boats on the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Texas Department of Public Safety officers on boats on the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Texas Department of Public Safety officers on riverine boats on the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Border wall

Concertina wire along the U.S. side of the Rio Grande near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

Handmade ladders near the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

A section of the border wall in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

A section of the border wall in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

A section of the border wall in the border town of McAllen, Texas. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)

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