A 10-year-old boy from El Salvador was found crying and alone near the US-Mexico border after being abandoned by human smugglers, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The discovery, made during Thanksgiving week, underscores the ongoing crisis of unaccompanied minors caught in dangerous border crossings.
Texas DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez reported that the boy was left in Maverick County with only a phone, telling troopers his smuggling guide had abandoned him. Authorities turned the child over to US Border Patrol. Video footage shows the boy tearfully explaining, “They left me alone. They didn’t want to guide me.”
This tragic incident comes amid a surge in unaccompanied children arriving at the border. Earlier this week, Operation Lone Star recovered 60 unaccompanied minors, including a 2-year-old girl with a note containing a name and phone number.
Under the Biden administration’s policies, unaccompanied children are sent to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for placement with sponsors. However, investigations have revealed that many minors face exploitation, including forced labor and trafficking. Alarmingly, more than 320,000 unaccompanied migrant children have been reported missing under the current administration.
Critics argue that open border policies have created conditions that endanger vulnerable children. The lack of strict enforcement has allowed smugglers and traffickers to exploit minors, leaving them at the mercy of dangerous criminal networks.
As the holiday season unfolds, the plight of these children is a stark reminder of the human cost of failed border policies. The Biden administration must prioritize the safety and well-being of minors, ensuring that no child is left to face such perilous circumstances.
