Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers found two unaccompanied children, ages 4 and 7, from Chiapas, Mexico, abandoned near the Rio Grande, bringing the total rescues to over 900 in Operation Lone Star.
The spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lt. Chris Olivarez, detailed the discovery, stating, "DPS troopers located two unaccompanied children from Mexico. In the last 24 hours, troopers have recovered four unaccompanied children in Eagle Pass." The children were subsequently referred to United States Border Patrol.
In a disturbing find, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers located two unaccompanied children, aged 4 and 7, from Chiapas, Mexico, abandoned near the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass on August 23. These children were left with only a note bearing an Alabama address, marking over 900 rescues since the launch of Operation Lone Star, according to Lt. Olivarez.
This incident is part of a broader crisis that has seen a dramatic increase over the past decade, according to a fact sheet released on August 1 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to the fact sheet, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is responsible for the care of unaccompanied children once they are apprehended by immigration authorities. Since the inception of the Unaccompanied Children (UC) Program, ORR has provided care for over 410,000 children. The first nine years saw fewer than 8,000 children served annually, but since Fiscal Year 2012, the numbers have escalated dramatically.
The fact sheet also highlights that federal law mandates ORR to provide necessities such as food, shelter, and medical care while finding suitable sponsors, usually family members residing across various states. ORR's average care period stands at 27 days, a time they are actively working to reduce without compromising the children's safety or welfare.
The fact sheet reveals that the figures for unaccompanied children have reached alarming levels in recent years. Data from the Department of Human Services shows that, as of June 2023, over 84,000 unaccompanied children have been placed, with 7,800 currently in the care of Health and Human Services (HHS).