Texas troopers recently found a 10-year-old boy from El Salvador crying and alone at the US-Mexico border after being abandoned by human smugglers. The boy, discovered in Maverick County, is one of many unaccompanied minors facing the dangers of border crossings.
The child was found with only a phone and told authorities his parents were already in the US. “The child was crying and told troopers a smuggling guide left him behind and that he was lost,” Texas DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez reported. The boy was handed over to US Border Patrol for further care.
This heartbreaking case follows the rescue of 60 unaccompanied minors earlier this week during Operation Lone Star. Among them was a 2-year-old girl from El Salvador, found abandoned with a note listing a name and phone number.
Under current policies, unaccompanied children are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for placement with sponsors. However, reports indicate that many of these children are exploited, with some ending up in forced labor or trafficking. Over 320,000 unaccompanied minors have been reported missing under the Biden administration, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
Critics argue that the administration’s border policies have incentivized smugglers to traffic children, creating dangerous conditions for vulnerable minors. The lack of strict enforcement has allowed criminal networks to thrive, leaving children at the mercy of traffickers.
As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, the plight of these children serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of open border policies. Urgent action is needed to protect these minors and ensure they are not abandoned, exploited, or lost in the system.
