A heartbreaking video surfaced on Sunday, showing a 2-year-old migrant girl, found alone at the U.S.-Mexico border, clinging to a piece of paper with a name and phone number written on it.
The child, a native of El Salvador, was part of a larger group of more than 200 migrants detained in Maverick County, Texas, including 60 unaccompanied minors.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) released footage of the toddler, dressed in a bright pink jacket, as she spoke to officers.
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The video showed the little girl answering questions about her journey. When asked where she was headed, the child simply said, “With my mom and dad.” When asked where her parents were, she replied, “United States.”
In the footage, the young girl is also seen holding a tiny piece of yellow paper, which authorities confirmed contained a name and phone number.
The child’s situation underscores the perilous journey that many minors are undertaking alone as they cross into the U.S. from Mexico.
“This is a stark example of the precarious journey these children make from their home country and how criminal organizations traffic these children across the southern border and further into the interior,” Lt. Chris Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks.”
The video of the child’s distressing situation comes amid broader concerns about the increasing number of migrant children entering the U.S. without parents.
WATCH: An unaccompanied two-year-old child from El Salvador explains she arrived in the US by herself and that her parents are in the US. The child had a piece of paper with a phone number & name.
This morning, @TxDPS encountered a group of 211 illegal immigrants in Maverick… pic.twitter.com/rXFoqee3Kk
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) November 24, 2024
The latest data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicates that over 529,000 migrant children have entered the country during the Biden administration.
Further compounding concerns, a report released in August revealed that the Biden administration has lost track of over 320,000 migrant children who crossed the border alone, raising alarms over their safety and well-being.
In separate videos, dozens of underage migrants were filmed by law enforcement officials standing in rows, reciting their ages and the countries from which they had traveled.
VIDEOS of unaccompanied children/minors and photos of special interest immigrants from Mali & Angola. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/HQPZBgieKY
— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) November 24, 2024
This public display further highlights the challenges law enforcement faces as they try to manage the influx of unaccompanied minors.
In response to the ongoing crisis at the southern border, former President Donald Trump’s former immigration enforcer, Tom Homan, has vowed to address illegal crossings more aggressively.
Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term, is expected to join Texas Governor Greg Abbott in inspecting the border later this week.
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Homan also revealed plans to use the U.S. military for “non-enforcement” duties to assist in the deportation of illegal migrants.
These measures come as the situation at the border continues to put pressure on the U.S. immigration system.
The disturbing images of children like the 2-year-old migrant girl are a stark reminder of the risks involved in illegal crossings and the growing concerns over the safety of unaccompanied minors.
As the debate over immigration policy continues, the safety of these vulnerable children remains a critical issue for both state and federal authorities.
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