Border Agents Rescue Drugged, Smuggled Children As Migrant Crisis Escalates

In a harrowing series of rescues, U.S. Border Patrol agents saved several unaccompanied children who were smuggled into the country by cartel operatives, with many believed to have been drugged during the process. According to El Centro Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino, these criminal acts are “so horrendous they defy human decency.”

One such rescue involved a young boy who had been given sleep aids by traffickers to prevent him from talking to agents. Alongside the boy, multiple birth certificates were found, raising concerns about further children in danger. Bovino expressed his outrage, calling the exploitation of children “reprehensible and evil.”

Within 48 hours of the initial rescue, Border Patrol agents discovered two more minors who were similarly drugged. Photos posted by Bovino showed children being rescued from smugglers who were not related to them. These criminals use sleep aids to keep the children silent during their journey, highlighting the extreme lengths to which they go in exploiting vulnerable minors.

The situation at the California-Mexico border has worsened under the current administration, with California now leading the nation in apprehensions. Despite having only 137 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, California has seen record levels of illegal crossings and drug smuggling. This surge comes as Texas tightened its border security, pushing criminal activities westward.

During a U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security hearing, former Border Patrol Chief Aaron Heitke testified about the horrific conditions migrants face, particularly women and children. He shared that many female migrants are routinely raped as part of the smuggling process, with cartels recruiting teenage girls in Tijuana and forcing them into prostitution once they arrive in the U.S.

Heitke also noted that Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of migrants, which has hindered their ability to address active human trafficking cases. Many agents are facing extreme mental and physical exhaustion, with the rising suicide rates within their ranks reflecting the emotional toll of the crisis.

The border crisis has drawn widespread criticism from law enforcement and former immigration officials. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and former ICE Chief Tom Homan have both condemned current policies, blaming them for empowering cartels and increasing human trafficking.