Border crisis: three children abandoned by smugglers found on the banks of the Rio Grande

"The number of unaccompanied children encountered by agents is increasing- 25,380 this fiscal year," noted Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez of the Rio Grande Valley sector.

Three immigrant children were abandoned by smugglers on the banks of the Rio Grande, the river that separates Mexico and Texas. Border Patrol agents encountered the unaccompanied minors while conducting surveillance on two separate days.

Rio Grande Valley Sector Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez tweeted a photo Wednesday of a girl abandoned by traffickers near Weslaco, Texas. The offenders had left the minor alone on Tuesday night on the river bank:

Just one day earlier, Chavez had reported the discovery of two other abandoned children, aged eight and 11:

Smuggling organizations continue to exploit children as a commodity!

More than 25,000 abandoned children have been found by CBP

The agent reported that these minors are among the more than 25,000 unaccompanied immigrant children encountered by agents so far this fiscal year. Almost all of them were abandoned by human smugglers who, according to Chavez, "protect narcotics more than human life."

CBP Chief acknowledges border crisis

This Wednesday at a hearing before the House of Representatives, Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz stated that the The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has no operational control at the southern border, thus contradicting Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who stated last year that "giant steps" were being taken to get the border crisis under control.

Ortiz stated that DHS has no control or proper means of preventing illegal entries into the country from immigrants, terrorists, narcotics and other contraband. He also acknowledged a "crisis situation" in some border regions.

He further indicated that nearly 1.5 million immigrants have entered the country illegally through the southern border. The new estimate includes 385,000 entries so far this fiscal year (since Oct. 1), and between 10% and 20% more untracked escapees:

At 385,000 gotaways so far this fiscal year, we continue to refine that number. I've got to do a better job of accounting for the actual encounters... In my estimation, based upon the situational awareness I have, it'd probably be between 10% and 20% [untracked gotaways]. 

Ortiz's figure and agency data show that since January 2021, some 4.2 million illegal immigrants have been allowed into the country.