Texas Department of Public Safety officers encountered more than 200 illegal aliens at the border, including children traveling alone.
In total, 211 illegal aliens crossed into the U.S. in Maverick County near Eagle Pass on Sunday morning. The group included 60 unaccompanied minors ages 2-17 and 6 special interest aliens—people who potentially pose a potential national security risk—from Mali in West Africa and Angola in Southern Africa.
Officers interviewed a 2-year-old girl who said she was from El Salvador. The girl claimed she arrived by herself to the U.S. and that her parents were residing in the country. She had with her a piece of paper with a phone number and a name.
Other minors interviewed, including young men ages 15-17, said they were entering the U.S. to travel to states like Virginia, Washington, and Texas.
“This is a stark example of the precarious journey these children make from their home country & how criminal organizations traffic these children across the southern border & further into the interior,” Texas DPS spokesperson Chris Olivarez wrote on X.
“Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks. With a record number of unaccompanied children and hundreds of thousands missing, there is no one ensuring the safety & security of these children except for the men & women who are on the frontlines daily,” he continued. “Despite the criticism over the years, the reality is that many children are exploited & trafficked, never to be heard from again. DPS has rescued over 900 children during #OperationLoneStar from abandonment & human smuggling.”
Recently, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas will be expanding the length of the floating buoy barriers along the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. He also shared photos of Texas National Guard soldiers installing additional razor wire in Eagle Pass.
