Border Patrol agents rescue lost child

Border Patrol agents rescue lost child
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January 21, 2009 - 7:18 AM
Jared Taylor
The Monitor
McALLEN -- Local U.S. Border Patrol agents found a lost 2-year-old girl on Saturday.

Agents received information late Friday night about a lost child in the brush south of U.S. Highway 83, west of La Joya.

Agents used night vision equipment to survey the thick brush near the border until they found a small girl about 1 a.m. Saturday in a cemetary south of U.S. 83, near the Havana subdivision.

Agents do not know the girl's identity or citizenship. She is believed to be about two years old.

"She's doing fine," said Dan Doty, a local Border Patrol spokesman. "She is more than likely undocumented, so we're trying to locate her parents."

The toddler was turned over to Child Protective Services until her a parent or guardian can be located.

McAllen-based Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations pilots responded to the area to look for the girl.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/bord ... _girl.html

This makes me sad. I can understand that a two year old can wander off, however, if I were illegally sneaking into another country with my children, you could take it to the bank that my child would never be out of my reach.

I have traveled internationally with a child before. My greatest fear was that he would run away at an airport. He tried, numerous times lol. These BPA should have found a hysterical mother screaming in the wilderness long before they found the baby.

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Originally Posted by cayla99

This makes me sad. I can understand that a two year old can wander off, however, if I were illegally sneaking into another country with my children, you could take it to the bank that my child would never be out of my reach.

I have traveled internationally with a child before. My greatest fear was that he would run away at an airport. He tried, numerous times lol. These BPA should have found a hysterical mother screaming in the wilderness long before they found the baby.

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The "loving" parents will, no doubt, be reunited with the child, instead of being thrown in jail or having the child put in foster care, like an American parent would.

Thank God the child is safe. Perhaps the adult taking care of the child came to misfortune.

The Border patrol does a remarkable job, just how did they know about the child?

maybe a good american citizen saw the child?

I WONDER IF THIS IS THE SAME CHILD???

2 Year Old Girl Found In Cemetery



Photo: 1 of 3 See Larger Images By Ray Pedraza
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 11:28 p.m.


LA HAVANA -- Federal and state authorities continued their efforts Wednesday to re-unite a two year old girl with her parents after she was found wandering alone in a cemetery.

It happened over the weekend in the small Hidalgo County town of La Havana.

Raciel Mancias and his wife live near the cemetery and saw all he commotion.

It's an area known to him and to the U.S. Border Patrol as a common route for human trafficking.

"Before I put the goats (out) every morning, I have to check the fence," said Mancias.

Ilegal immigrants routinely cross through his property, knocking over fences.

But what happened near the Mancias home on Saturday morning was anything but routine.

After an intense aerial and ground search, U.S. Border agents found a 2 year old girl at the fenced burial site, situated right off of Expressway 83.

"We utilized air support and other technology," said U.S. Border Patrol spokesman John Lopez, "We had an infrared scope in order to find the child, it was at nighttime."

Lopez said the girl was found wandering through grave markers, at around 1 or 2 in the morning.

He said the child was afraid but otherwise okay.

"She appeared relieved that someone had found her," Lopez said.

A frantic caller led agents to the area but the woman on the phone couldn't be traced.

Agents aren't sure if the little girl was separated from a group of illegals and aren't even sure if she is an American citizen or an undocumented immigrant.

They had been there hours earlier to apprehend a group of illegals.

But, when notified no one in that group claimed to have lost a child.

Mr. Mancias believes a woman could have been spooked by Border Patrol agents and lost the child.

He said the mere sight of a hovering chopper would make anyone nervous.

During smuggling attempts, its not uncommon for children to be separated from adults but Lopez said this case is different.

"Usually we find them at the same time," Lopez said. "But in this instance, this person was by themselves in the middle of nowhere, pretty much."

The priority now is to find the girl's mother.

The two year old, who was evaluated at a local hospital, has been turned over to Child Protective Services.

Action 4 News spoke to Child Protective Services regional spokesman John Lennan, late Wednesday.

Lennan said no one has reported a lost or missing child to CPS.

If no one comes forward soon, CPS will likely release a photo or description of the girl.

Lennan urged anyone with information on the girl's parents to contact the nearest CPS office or the 24 hour CPS hotline at 1-800-252-5400.

Tips can also be phoned in to local police departments or the U.S. Border Patrol.
See photos


http://www.valleycentral.com/news/news_ ... ?id=249852

Lost toddler's father found
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January 23, 2009 - 10:52 PM
Ana Ley
The Monitor
LA JOYA — The father of a toddler discovered wandering in a cemetery near the U.S.-Mexico border Saturday has been found in Honduras, authorities confirmed.

Child Protective Services workers contacted the man Friday afternoon and are attempting to reunite him with the girl, CPS spokesman John Lennan said.

Lennan refused to identify the child or her father, citing privacy issues. Doctors believe the girl is about 2 years old. She remains in foster care until CPS can return her to her family.

U.S. Border Patrol agents found the girl after receiving a report on Jan. 16 that a child was wandering south of U.S. Highway 83 and west of La Joya.

A group of undocumented immigrants detained near the area did not recognize the girl, Border Patrol spokesman John Lopez said.

"We can't say for sure whether she was (being smuggled across)," Lopez said. "But the area is often used by illegal immigrants."

Authorities used night-vision equipment to survey the heavily thicketed area and located the girl about 1 a.m. Jan. 17 in a cemetery south of the highway, near the Havana subdivision.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations pilots aided in the search for the girl.

www.themonitor.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jean

Lost toddler's father found
Comments 1 | Recommend 0
January 23, 2009 - 10:52 PM
Ana Ley
The Monitor
LA JOYA — The father of a toddler discovered wandering in a cemetery near the U.S.-Mexico border Saturday has been found in Honduras, authorities confirmed.

Child Protective Services workers contacted the man Friday afternoon and are attempting to reunite him with the girl, CPS spokesman John Lennan said.

Lennan refused to identify the child or her father, citing privacy issues. Doctors believe the girl is about 2 years old. She remains in foster care until CPS can return her to her family.

U.S. Border Patrol agents found the girl after receiving a report on Jan. 16 that a child was wandering south of U.S. Highway 83 and west of La Joya.

A group of undocumented immigrants detained near the area did not recognize the girl, Border Patrol spokesman John Lopez said.

"We can't say for sure whether she was (being smuggled across)," Lopez said. "But the area is often used by illegal immigrants."

Authorities used night-vision equipment to survey the heavily thicketed area and located the girl about 1 a.m. Jan. 17 in a cemetery south of the highway, near the Havana subdivision.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations pilots aided in the search for the girl.

www.themonitor.com

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Mom must have taken her. I am glad they found dad and she will be going back to where she belongs. I hope mom loses her forever