U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers helped avert a possible Mother’s Day weekend tragedy after they revived an unresponsive two-year-old at the El Paso port of entry, according to a new press release.
The officers, including one EMT-certified officer, helped provide medical support until first responders could arrive, saving the child's life.
Per the statement,
CBP officers at the Ysleta crossing were conducting an enforcement operation in the traffic queue before the primary inspection booths when they encountered a family requesting medical help for their U.S. citizen two-year-old child. The family said the young girl was unresponsive due to high fever. CBP officers requested backup and remained with the family until help arrived.
An EMT certified CBP officer arrived and administered first aid and was able to restore the child to normal breathing before EMS arrived. EMS transported the girl to El Paso Children’s Hospital. CBP officers learned that the child was diagnosed with Flu-B, prescribed medication and released in stable condition.
Given the record number of apprehensions and "inadmissibles" this Fiscal Year 2019, the El Paso port of entry in March implemented a Centralized Processing Center (CPC) “to increase the care of and provision for [Unaccompanied Children] and [Family Units] in the temporary custody of CBP while awaiting disposition by ICE and/or placement with [Health and Human Services (HHS)]” – part of CBP’s initiative to increase medical supports for migrants at and in between ports of entry along the U.S.-Southern border.
Despite all of the negative media coverage, immigration enforcement’s rescue efforts continue.
CBP tweeted on Sunday that U.S. Border Patrol have already rescued over 2,000 people this Fiscal Year.