Journalist based in Miami swims across Rio Grande for immigration story

The renowned bilingual anchor swam across the dangerous river in the border between Texas and Mexico to tackle a story about immigration

MIAMI – The Rio Grande is muddy. Its turbid water has sewage, rocks and garbage.

Jorge Ramos, 56, based in Miami, and a cameraman traveled to the border and jumped in Friday. Two U.S. Border Patrol boats followed them. They swam from the Texan border to the Mexican side.

Ramos, an avid South Florida runner, said it took them about 15 minutes. And they weren't allowed to touch the Mexican side.

"There are very strong undercurrents, a lot of rocks and plants and a muddy bottom," Ramos told the Daily Beast. "If you try to stand up you might be stuck, because it's so muddy."

The focus of the story was on the children from Central America who swim across the river at night with their belongings in plastic bags.

After a treacherous journey many die in their attempt to get to the United States. And some of those who make it were facing deportation or were stuck in limbo.

Ramos' story was set to air on his show  America With Jorge Ramos, at 10 p.m., Wednesday night on Fusion, an ABC News and Univision joined venture.