A two-year-old girl from El Salvador was found by Texas authorities near the U.S.-Mexico border, traveling alone with a piece of paper containing a name and phone number. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the child told officers that her parents were already in the United States.
The discovery occurred near Maverick County, where 211 migrants were apprehended, including 60 unaccompanied minors aged between two and 17. DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez confirmed to Newsweek the group also included six individuals from Mali and Angola, designated as “special interest immigrants” due to national security protocols.
The incident is part of the state’s wider border operations under Operation Lone Star, launched in 2021 by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The $11 billion initiative involves the DPS and Texas National Guard, aiming to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking.
To date, the operation has reportedly led to over 521,100 migrant apprehensions and 47,500 criminal arrests, including more than 41,000 felony charges. It has also rescued over 900 children from human trafficking and abandonment.
A recent audit from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General found that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to monitor the whereabouts of over 30,000 unaccompanied migrant children after their release from custody.
This finding coincides with reports of increased numbers of unaccompanied children crossing the southern border. In recent weeks, another 154 migrants were apprehended near Eagle Pass, Texas, including 20 unaccompanied minors—15 boys and five girls. Among the group were six individuals from Afghanistan classified as “special interest immigrants.”
