A heart-wrenching discovery unfolded at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas: a 2-year-old girl from El Salvador, traveling alone and unaccompanied by any adult.
The toddler, who had a piece of paper with a name and phone number, was found by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers. Despite the perilous journey, the child appeared calm and explained to authorities that she had arrived in the U.S. on her own and that her parents were already in the country.
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This incident is part of a broader humanitarian crisis at the southern border. On Sunday, November 24, 2024, DPS troopers encountered 211 illegal immigrants, including 60 unaccompanied minors ranging from 2 to 17 years old. Six of these minors were from Mali and Angola.
Texas DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez expressed deep concern over the exploitation of children by human trafficking organizations. He highlighted the dangers these children face and the urgent need for action to address the ongoing border crisis.
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“Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks,” Olivarez said in a social media post. “With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety and security of these children except for the men and women on the frontlines daily. Despite the criticism over the years, the reality is that many children are exploited and trafficked, never to be heard from again. DPS has rescued over 900 children during #OperationLoneStar from abandonment and human smuggling.”
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