Texas DPS Rescues 5-Year-Old Smuggled Across the Border

The ongoing U.S.-Mexico border crisis continues to highlight tragic stories, with children often becoming the most vulnerable victims. In one such incident, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) rescued a 5-year-old girl who was being smuggled into the United States.

The rescue occurred during a routine traffic stop when Texas DPS officers pulled over a Ram 1500 truck in Val Verde County near Del Rio, Texas. The girl was identified as the same child seen in surveillance footage being carried across the Rio Grande by a smuggler.

The footage, captured by border surveillance cameras and aired by Fox, showed a male adult transporting the girl across the border. DPS confirmed her identity during the traffic stop. Meanwhile, the girl’s mother, who was with another smuggler in the vehicle, revealed she had paid $8,000 to have her daughter brought into the United States.

The mother, a North Carolina resident, reportedly found the smugglers through the internet. Authorities are now investigating the smuggling operation.

Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesman for Texas DPS, shared a video of the dramatic rescue on social media, underscoring the grave dangers children face during smuggling attempts.

MUST WATCH VIDEO: TX TROOPER RESCUES FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD SMUGGLED ACROSS THE BORDER

11/29: A @TxDPS Trooper stopped a Ram 1500 in Del Rio, Val Verde County, after receiving information from a border surveillance camera (see image) capturing a male adult carrying a child across… https://t.co/b5EIMBxvC3 pic.twitter.com/Vf9jc7gLxM

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) November 30, 2024

The video not only shows the moment the smuggler carried the girl across the border but also the eventual intervention by law enforcement.

This case is far from isolated. Just days earlier, Texas DPS encountered a 10-year-old boy from El Salvador who was abandoned by smugglers after being brought into the United States.

The boy was discovered alone and distressed on the U.S. side of the border, clutching a phone. A video shared by Lt. Olivarez captured the moment officers questioned the child, who appeared scared and uncertain about his circumstances.

Olivarez used the video to highlight the emotional toll of these smuggling operations on children, writing, “As many of us are celebrating Thanksgiving with our families & friends, let’s not forget many children will not get to enjoy the holidays or see their families because they have been placed in a dire situation.”

These heartbreaking stories have reignited fierce criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of border security. Critics argue that the administration’s policies have created an environment ripe for exploitation by human traffickers and smugglers.

Many Republicans, including Texas officials, contend that the administration’s reluctance to enforce stricter border controls has placed children and other vulnerable individuals in life-threatening situations.

Conservatives point to Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion.” They argue that the current federal government has failed in this constitutional duty by allowing unchecked border crossings.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to address the border crisis head-on when he takes office on January 20, 2025. He has promised to seal the border and enforce stricter immigration policies to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

In a recent statement, Trump emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation. “We will end the chaos at the border and ensure the safety and security of every child and family,” he said.

The rescues of the 5-year-old girl and the 10-year-old boy serve as stark reminders of the ongoing human cost of the border crisis. As lawmakers and activists debate solutions, the children caught in the middle continue to face unimaginable risks.

For now, state-level efforts like those of Texas DPS offer a glimmer of hope, but they also underscore the urgent need for comprehensive federal action. The coming months will reveal whether the incoming administration’s promises can turn the tide on what has become a deeply divisive issue for the nation.

The border crisis remains a pressing challenge, with lives hanging in the balance. Stories like these highlight the need for urgent action to protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us.