A three-year-old child is one of two individuals who recently drowned while attempting to illegally gain entry into America. 

The Texas Department of Public Safety has revealed as much to ABC News.

Per the outlet, "A 3-year-old child died on Wednesday as his family attempted to cross the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, a spokesperson for Texas Department of Public Safety told ABC News."

ABC goes on to provide details about what happened.

The details

The Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass is particularly dangerous. As ABC explains, "Although some parts seem shallow enough to cross on foot, there are steep drop-offs in the area that can cause migrants to be swept away by the current."

The child and the child's family were attempting to cross the border just north of where Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has installed the 1,000-foot-long floating marine barrier, which is designed to deter such crossings.

It appears that, while attempting the crossing, the current of the water proved to be too strong for the child.

ABC reports:

The agency says troopers with the Tactical Marine Unit responded to reports that a child had been swept away by the current. When troopers located the child, he was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead, officials said.

Further specifics have not been provided.

Background

This comes as America is witnessing a surge in migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In the Eagle Pass area alone, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is said to be witnessing upwards of 4,000 migrant border crossings per day. As a result, Eagle Pass has declared a state of emergency.

Highlighting the dangers of attempting to cross the Rio Grande River at Eagle Pass, the New York Post reports that the boy was not the only migrant to be swept away by the current this past week. The outlet reports, "On Thursday morning, around 8:40 p.m., DPS’ marine unit discovered another body submerged in the Rio Grande."

These deaths have only heightened the criticism of the marine barrier. Some argue that the barrier poses a threat to human life, and, now, these recent drownings are being used to support this argument.

The barrier has been legally challenged, and a court has already ordered it to be taken down, on the grounds that Abbott did not have the authority to put it there. But, Texas is currently keeping the barrier up while it appeals the court's decision.