Two children were rescued by a Border Patrol agent after smugglers left them for dead at a desert in Lukeville, Arizona.
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The children, a 4-month-old and an 18-month-old were found at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument after a migrant was arrested Thursday. Tuscon Secftion Border Patrol Chief John Modlin said an 18-month-old was found crying and a four-month-old was laying face down and responsive. After receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, the children were released back into Border Patrol custody.
“Yesterday smugglers left two young children — an infant and a toddler — in the Sonoran Desert to die. This is not just another example of smugglers exploiting migrants for money. This is cruelty,” Modlin exclaimed.
Yesterday smugglers left an infant and a toddler in the Sonoran Desert to die. This is cruelty. And it is gut-wrenching. I commend our agents for their quick response to this dreadful incident and to every incident in which migrant lives are at stake. 1/ pic.twitter.com/TvMBJLJW1f
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) August 26, 2022
The children were 4 months and 18 months old. Agents found the infant was unresponsive; thankfully, we were able to revive her and avert tragedy. The heartlessness of smugglers cannot be underestimated. 2/
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) August 26, 2022
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The agents did not confirm whether the smugglers who abandoned the children were among the people arrested as reported by CBS. Additionally, the children’s nationalities, gender, and the identities of their parents were not revealed.
In their report, the Tuscon Sector said its seen a 12 percent increase after more unaccompanied migrant children being smuggled across the border within the year. Overall, the United States has seen a decline in the number of migrants crossing through the border. The decrease is due to the Biden administration consistently making efforts to combat smuggling operations and convincing migrants not to travel through the northern section of the border.
“This marks the second month in a row of decreased encounters along the Southwest border. While the encounter numbers remain high, this is a positive trend and the first two-month drop since October 2021,” said CBP Comissioner Chris Magnus after referencing the steady decline in July.
Migrants #rescued following another #FlashFlood.
Last week, an air asset located two adult male migrants in distress near Sells, AZ, after they called 911. The helicopter directed them to solid ground, where Tucson Sector BORSTAR agents safety took them into custody. pic.twitter.com/3Z1Lc4DdIw
— John R. Modlin (@USBPChiefTCA) August 28, 2022