Heartbreaking moment A one-year-old toddler is abandoned alone at the US border by a “coyote” people smuggler after a couple swam the Colorado River
- A one-year-old Guatemalan boy has been abandoned at the US border after being taken across by a “Coyote” people smuggler
- Luckily, the child was spotted by a border guard who helped with the incident, which was caught on surveillance cameras
- Since Oct. 1, Border Patrol agents have encountered over 58,000 unaccompanied minors, including 2,980 in the Yuma and El Centro sectors
This is the heartbreaking moment when a one-year-old Guatemalan boy was dropped off at the US border by a “coyote” people smuggler.
The suspect left the child on the Colorado River to fend for himself after crossing from Mexico earlier this week.
Surveillance cameras along Mexico’s Arizona border saw the smuggler emerge from the water and set the youth on a trail between two sections of the border, where he then abandoned the child.
The smuggler then swims back across the border to Mexico, leaving the child all alone.
A one-year-old Guatemalan boy has been abandoned at the US border after being taken across by a “Coyote” people smuggler
A Border Patrol agent rushed to help the small child who was abandoned at the US border
The abandoned boy seemed completely confused and a few moments later started walking around alone, only a few meters from the water.
An eagle-eyed Border Patrol agent spotted the boy through the fence and raced in his SUV to take him to his unit.
US Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz tweeted a video of the incident, which read, “Tragedy averted!”
“A one-year-old Guatemalan child was abandoned on the Colorado River Monday afternoon by a smuggler who took her across the border and then abandoned her on the bank. Thanks to our agent’s quick response. …” wrote Ortiz.
Ortiz later shared a picture of the border guard holding the boy: “Picture of child safe with agent.”
The child is completely alone at the border. A patrol car spots him through the fence
Fortunately, the child was spotted by a border guard who provided assistance and rushed to help
Border Patrol officers detained migrants hiding on private property after crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico to the United States earlier this week
Encounters with migrants in February were at their lowest since February 2021
The young child’s video has since been retweeted nearly 1,000 times, with hundreds of others liking it and receiving a multitude of replies
The video has since been retweeted almost 1,000 times, with hundreds of others liking it and generating a multitude of reactions.
“When I see this, tears come to my eyes. Your agent deserves the highest praise for acting quickly. God bless you all,” wrote one Twitter user, who is the father of two boys.
Since the fiscal year began on October 1, 2022, agents have met more than 58,000 unaccompanied minors.
Since the fiscal year began on Oct. 1, 2022, agents have met more than 58,000 unaccompanied minors (file photo last week at the US-Mexico border).
Mexico is seen in the background as soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard lead migrants after they were smuggled across the Rio Grande River into Roma, Texas on Thursday