HSI El Paso: Toddler rescued from human smugglers, reunited with mother

SANTA TERESA, New Mexico - Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations helped U.S. Border Patrol agents rescue a 1-year-old girl who was separated from her mother by human smugglers, according to officials.

Border Patrol agents say they came across a mom and her 11-year-old son near McNutt and Anapra Roads. They were taken to the central processing center for family verification and processing.

The mother told agents her 1-year-old daughter had been taken from her by human smugglers in Mexico.

Agents found out the baby was scheduled to travel to Dallas by bus and reached out to HSI special agents who were able to locate the girl before they left El Paso.

The baby was reunited with her mother. The suspected smuggler, Rubye Ramos, 23, was arrested and charged with transporting an undocumented non-citizen.

“Human smugglers are driven by greed,” said Frank B. Burrola, special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI remains steadfast in our commitment to work closely with our partners to vigorously pursue human smuggling networks that exploit and endanger people who entrust them with their lives.”

"This weekend a tragedy was prevented due to the invaluable partnership between Border Patrol agents and special agents from Homeland Security Investigations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “I am extremely proud of the intelligence gathering and investigative work by all agents involved in this case that brought an innocent child to safety.”