Ten Honduran children, traveling alone, were rescued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) after being abandoned near the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas. The children were discovered by the DPS Brush Team at the river's edge amidst scorching temperatures exceeding 115°F. DPS spokesperson, Chris Olivarez, highlighted the dangerous conditions these children were subjected to by smugglers, emphasizing the life-threatening heat. Footage released by the DPS showed the children recovering in the shade after their rescue.

This incident unfolds amidst an ongoing border crisis in Texas, with a continuous influx of migrants entering the U.S. illegally, often relying on human smugglers. Just days prior, the DPS apprehended an alleged smuggler who facilitated the crossing of five migrants using a ladder over the border wall. The man, Jose Juan Eufracio Medina, denied the smuggling accusations. The five migrants, originating from El Salvador and Guatemala, were also detained.

The apprehension of these migrants follows a surge in border crossings before the expiration of Title 42 last month. Border Patrol recorded over 10,000 migrant encounters per day in the two days leading up to the policy change, marking the highest single-day totals ever recorded. Title 42, implemented in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enabled the rapid expulsion of migrants. Its expiration sparked concerns about a further increase in illegal crossings, even amidst an already significant border crisis. Although May saw over 200,000 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encounters, a substantial decrease followed the end of Title 42, with daily encounters dropping to around 3,000.

This rescue also echoes a tragic incident from last summer where 53 migrants perished in an abandoned tractor-trailer in San Antonio. Two alleged human smugglers from Texas were indicted in this case, potentially facing life sentences or even the death penalty.