EL PASO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – US Customs and Border Protection officials working at the Paso del Norte international crossing in El Paso detained an eight-year-old, lone Guatemalan child on November 8.
(credit: US Customs and Border Protection)
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“The boy told us that he was dropped at the base of the bridge in Mexico by unknown persons and told him to keep walking until he collided with someone in uniform. Luckily he was nothing more serious than his abandonment. Was able to make it to our officers before it happened,” said Ray Provencio, acting El Paso Port Director.
CBP officers brought the child to the port for processing. She was cleared medically and determined to be in good physical condition.
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During processing officers were able to make contact with a man in Virginia who was believed to be his mother. After processing they were transferred to the Border Patrol Centralized Processing Center in El Paso. He will then be referred to Health and Human Services for further processing and placement.
The authorities informed the Guatemalan consulate regarding the incident.
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“This is yet another example of smugglers with no regard for their vulnerable human commodity,” Provencio said. “This should serve as a warning to parents not to put the safety and well-being of their precious children in the hands of traffickers.”
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