A two-year-old migrant girl, who was found alone at the border on Sunday with only a note in her possession, has become a symbol of the potential dangers faced by unaccompanied minors crossing into the U.S. Officials warn that these children are at risk of falling into the hands of sex traffickers due to the strain on underfunded U.S. agencies.
The current immigration system in the U.S. has been criticized for its inability to adequately protect thousands of children who slip through the cracks, often leading to lives of abuse and exploitation. Tara Lee Rodas, a whistleblower from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, expressed her frustration, calling the situation a “stain on our nation.”
Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety voiced his concerns about the vulnerability of children crossing the border alone. He highlighted the uncertainty surrounding their journey and their fate after crossing the border.
The young girl, who remains unidentified, was part of a group of approximately 60 unaccompanied children from El Salvador who had illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. Dressed in a bright pink jacket, the toddler was found holding a piece of paper with only a first name and phone number written on it.
In a video shared by the Texas DPS, the child informed officers that she was two years old, traveling alone, and was on her way to meet her parents. Officials stated that she would likely be handed over to the HHS, who would then attempt to locate a U.S. guardian for her. If no guardian or relatives can be found, the child will be placed into government care in the U.S.
However, once the child is released from HHS custody, resources to follow up on her case and others like it are limited. Efforts to prevent the exploitation of these children can be easily undermined by sex and labor traffickers, who often use fear to control their victims.
Olivarez noted that many children are threatened by traffickers not to reveal their situation to law enforcement at the border, making it difficult to identify and address the abuse. Rodas added that her federal agency’s efforts to verify a child’s location often do not extend beyond a phone call.
Rodas expressed concern that many of the approximately 320,000 migrant children in the U.S. who have lost contact with federal authorities after being released to sponsors may have fallen victim to sex and labor traffickers.