### Heart-Wrenching Discovery of Unaccompanied Minors at Texas Border Highlights Ongoing Crisis

In a distressing incident on the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas, a multitude of unaccompanied minors was discovered crossing into the United States. Among the vulnerable group was a 2-year-old girl from El Salvador, who embarked on the perilous journey alone. A video released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) depicted the young girl holding a piece of paper with a name and phone number scribbled on it, looking confused but maintaining her composure. When questioned in Spanish by a trooper, the child mentioned that her parents were already in the U.S.

During this operation in Maverick County, Texas DPS troopers encountered a total of 211 illegal immigrants, including 60 minors aged between 2 and 17 years. The group also featured immigrants from Mali and Angola, emphasizing the wide reach of the crisis.

Lieutenant Chris Olivarez, a spokesman for Texas DPS, underlined the dangers these children face as they journey from their home countries, often falling prey to criminal organizations that traffic them across borders. "Regardless of political views, it is unacceptable for any child to be exposed to dangerous criminal trafficking networks," Olivarez stated, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation.

Olivarez also pointed out the alarming number of children who go missing or are exploited during these treacherous journeys. According to him, the Texas DPS, under Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star, has successfully rescued over 900 children from abandonment and human smuggling—an effort that highlights the ongoing, perilous reality facing many young immigrants.

This discovery in Maverick County serves as a stark reminder of the complex and human tragedy of the border crisis, where children are frequently the most vulnerable victims.