5 migrant children found traveling alone near Del Rio

Border Patrol agents discovered five unaccompanied migrant kids near Del Rio on Wednesday, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The children — all under 10 years old and from Honduras — were found in two larger groups of migrants, traveling without legal guardians.

A 6-year-old child caring for her 1-year-old cousin was discovered in a cohort of 27 migrants after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Customs and Border Protection. And a 5-yearold was found traveling alone in that group.

The kids were carrying notes that had contact information for their relatives living in the U.S.

“These five children made a very dangerous journey,” said Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jason D. Owens. “They were put into the hands of criminal smugglers by the very people who are supposed to take care of them.”

In a smaller group of migrants, agents encountered two siblings, ages 9 and 7, who also traveled with information for relatives already living in the U.S.

The children will be processed and transferred to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services custody, where they will likely live in federally funded shelters until they are eventually reconnected with family members.

Harris County is a top destination for Central American kids and other minors migrating to the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian.

The Brookings Institute reported this year that the increase in migration from Honduras in recent years “is driven by persistently high levels of violence coupled with sharp increases in food

insecurity.”

So far in fiscal year 2022, more unaccompanied migrant children have been resettled in Harris County than in any other county in the U.S. — some 757 kids, according to HHS data from October.

In fiscal year 2021, 7,033 migrant kids were released to relatives and other sponsors in Harris County, also more than any other county nationwide.

Around 12,000 migrant children and teens are currently in HHS custody waiting to be released to sponsors, according to federal data.