Crosser is reunited with baby she had left with smugglers

Fernanda Echavarri Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star
Friday, December 31, 2010 12:00 am

A Guatemalan woman who was caught crossing into the United States illegally was reunited with her 5-month-old baby after she left him with smugglers in Mexico, authorities said.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents worked with Mexican authorities Monday to reunite the mother with her son, according to a Border Patrol news release.

The mother was apprehended Monday about 9 a.m. by agents from the Douglas station. She told agents she had left her son with smugglers, who were supposed to bring him across, said Eric Cantu, a Border Patrol spokesman.

"These situations don't happen too often, but they do happen," Cantu said. The agency has had incidents in which parents bring small children on the trip north and then give them to smugglers "hoping for the best." he said.

Agents from the Border Patrol's intelligence unit in Tucson received information that the child was never brought to the U.S. Mexican authorities were then notified, Cantu said.

At about 10 p.m. Monday, Mexican authorities found the baby in a hotel near Agua Prieta, Sonora, and took him to the Douglas port of entry, the release said. The baby was not injured.

The mother and her son are in the process of being repatriated to Guatemala, Cantu said.

"This was a success story. Many children are never seen by their parents again," Cantu said.

On StarNet: Find extensive coverage of immigration issues at azstarnet.com/border

Contact reporter Fernanda Echavarri at fechavar@azstarnet.com or 573-4224.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/border/ ... 57169.html