Woman, 3 children found dead at US-Mexico border

Four people, including three children, found dead in south Texas near the border with Mexico. They are likely died of dehydration and heat exposure after crossing the Rio Grande into the US.

Mission, Texas: US authorities say four people, including three children, found dead in south Texas near the border with Mexico, likely died of dehydration and heat exposure after crossing the Rio Grande into the US.

A law enforcement official close to the investigation said the four were overcome by the heat and that foul play was not suspected.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorised to speak publicly about the bodies which were discovered on Sunday.

Authorities said the bodies, of a woman in her early 20s, a toddler and two infants, were found by US Border Patrol agents at or near Anzalduas Park in Mission that borders the river.

Investigators suspect they had died days before being discovered.

Local officials said the area is commonly used by migrants entering the country illegally.

The FBI is leading the investigation into the deaths because the park is on federal land.

The Rio Grande Valley sector of Border Patrol, which includes the area where the bodies were found, has experienced an unprecedented number of apprehensions involving people entering the country illegally.

Over a seven-month period ending in April, agents apprehended more than 164,000 people, a number surpassing the total number of apprehensions in all of fiscal year 2018.