Border Patrol Rescues Infant and Toddler Abandoned in Desert

A four-month-old baby and an 18-month-old toddler were rescued after being abandoned in the desert by smugglers, according to John R. Modlin, chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector.

“Yesterday smugglers left an infant and a toddler in the Sonoran Desert to die. This is cruelty. And it is gut-wrenching,” Modlin tweeted.

He noted that while the baby was unresponsive, she was successfully revived. “The heartlessness of smugglers cannot be underestimated,” he said.

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

Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued an infant and a toddler after human smugglers abandoned them in the desert. Authorities said the smugglers left the babies in the desert to die. https://t.co/5MgnSEFNK5

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) August 28, 2022

“The incident happened on Aug. 25 when an Ajo Border Patrol agent was informed by a group of arrested migrants that two children were traveling alone west of the Lukeville Port of Entry on the Organ Pipe Cactus Monument, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said,” Fox 10 Phoenix reported.

The Border Patrol agent immediately went to the area and found a 4-month-old child face down and unresponsive. An 18 month old was found crying nearby.

Emergency medical technicians were called to the scene by the agent, who began administering first aid and revived the 4 month old.

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EMTs arrived at the scene and transported the children to the Abrazo West Hospital before being discharged back into Border Patrol custody.

AP News added:

It was not immediately clear if the smugglers blamed for abandoning the children were among those arrested. Authorities did not release any details about the children, including their genders, what country they came from and the identities of their parents or guardians.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument stretches along the Mexican border in southwestern Arizona, a harsh, dry landscape studded with towering cactuses and other desert flora. It’s about 130 miles (209 kilometers) southwest of Phoenix.

Because of its remoteness, the 517- square-mile (1,340 square kilometer) park is a favored crossing area for some smugglers. The human remains of suspected border crossers are often found in the area.

“The Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector says it has seen a 12% increase in unaccompanied children being smuggled across the border over the past fiscal year,” AP noted.