More military personnel head to the US-Mexico border as officials describe an increase in migrant crossings

The Defense Department is ramping up resources at the US-Mexico border as officials describe a surge in border crossings in places including Eagle Pass, Texas, where the mayor has declared a state of emergency.

Some 800 new active-duty personnel are being sent to the border, where 2,500 National Guard members already are serving, Department of Homeland Security officials announced Wednesday night in a call with reporters.

The move comes as migrant crossings along that border are rising, surpassing 8,600 over the last 24 hours, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. That's up from around 3,500 daily border arrests after the expiration in May of Title 42 triggered new consequences for those who cross the border illegally. There were than 8,000 apprehensions on Monday.

The busiest sectors are Del Rio, El Paso, Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Tucson - each facing more than 1,000 encounters over the last 24 hours, according to the official. Eagle Pass is in the Del Rio sector.

On Wednesday, a 3-year-old boy died as his family attempted to cross the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The DPS Tactical Marine Unit was alerted that a child was swept away by the current while trying to cross the river with his family just after 3:30 p.m. local time.

Troopers transported the child to shore, and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to DPS, which said the death occurred north of the marine barrier in Eagle Pass.