Border Patrol agents on Monday rescued a 1-year-old baby after a smuggler at the southern border dumped the child by the edge of the Colorado River.
Migration at the southern border has exploded under President Joe Biden, increasing humanitarian concerns as well as national security risks.
“A one-year-old Guatemalan child was abandoned along the Colorado River Monday afternoon by a smuggler who took him across the border and then left him to fend for himself along the water’s edge,” U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz captioned the shocking video he tweeted Thursday. “Thanks to our agent’s quick response, tragedy was averted!”
The video shows a smuggler from Mexico pop out of the water holding the child. He then places the one-year-old on the ground, alone along the river’s edge, before swiftly returning back to Mexico. Thankfully, a border agent spotted the drop and within about a minute drove over to rescue the child.
The child has reportedly been identified, but the name is not being shared with the public to protect the minor’s privacy.
“The child will be placed in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement,” Border Patrol spokesman John Mennell said.
WATCH:
A one-year-old Guatemalan child was abandoned along the Colorado River Monday afternoon by a smuggler who took him across the border and then left him to fend for himself along the water’s edge. Thanks to our agent’s quick response, tragedy was averted! pic.twitter.com/mY2K7t59VE
— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) March 23, 2023
Ortiz followed up the post with an image of the border agent and the rescued child.
Picture of child safe with an Agent. pic.twitter.com/DZr0VMUNTG
— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) March 23, 2023
The crisis at the southern border has only intensified since Biden has taken office and further restricted Border Patrol’s ability to expel migrants. Notably, Biden early on made changes to circumvent Title 42 — used by the Trump administration during the pandemic to expel migrants on the basis of public health.
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“Beginning April 21, 2022, OFO will increase its capabilities to process noncitizens potentially amenable for an exception to Title 42,” a memo from sent to Border Patrol reportedly said. “Factors weighing in favor of an exception include the following: a physical or mental illness, disability; pregnancy; lack of access to safe housing or shelter in Mexico (under 21 years old or younger or over 70, including families); and an indication that an individual has been threatened or harmed in Mexico.”
The administration has long been seeking to lift Title 42, but that is currently working through the courts. Border experts have warned the removal of the policy will exacerbate the crisis at the southern border.
Biden has recently tried to claim that his administration and Democrats are really the ones who want border security, while Republicans are trying to block it.