A group of illegal immigrants fleeing a Mexican military sweep caused a mass mobilization of law enforcement officials west of Roma on Tuesday morning.
It all happened west of the Roma International bridge around 9:51 a.m. Tuesday.
U.S. Border Patrol officials reported that the Mexican military was sweeping the area.
Soldiers spooked a group of six illegal immigrants who fled across the Rio Grande River.
Border Patrol officials reported that the immigrants were initially thought to be gunmen because they were thought to be wearing "bulletproof vests."
But regional Border Patrol spokesman Dan Milian told Action 4 News that the "vests" turned out to be life jackets.
Starr County Sheriff's Office deputies, Roma police and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents all responded to the scene.
Agent Milian told Action 4 News that the six arrested at the scene were just illegal immigrants.
Names and nationalities of the six immigrants were not immediately available but Milian reported that they are being processed for deportation.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT