Two American Children Found Wandering and Asking for Money in Nuevo Laredo
Two American citizens, ages 6 and 7, were found wandering and asking for money in Nuevo Laredo. Viviano Vázquez Macías, Director of the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF), reported that the children were located in the Valle Dorado neighborhood following citizen complaints.
“The DIF System is always focused on protecting the rights of girls, boys, and adolescents. These children were handed over to the DIF System yesterday by the State Police through the Gender Equity Unit, where they had found these children. This was the result of following up on complaints we had received from residents of Valle Dorado and Valle Elizondo. The children had also been wandering around and were at Oxxo stores all day asking people for money, opening the door for them and asking for money, and, well, these children are American citizens.”
What Did DIF Do With the Children?
He highlighted that, through the Gender Unit and the State Police, the children were taken to the DIF Shelter, where they received a medical examination and their rights were protected.
“Yesterday they were taken to the shelter, where they were medically examined, their rights were protected, and above all, they were cleaned up. They were examined by the doctor and afterward the mother appeared at the DIF System, and she was given all the necessary instructions.”
DIF Asks the Mother Not to Leave the Children Alone Again
He explained that the children were returned at the bridge together with the American consulate and CBP authorities, in order to ensure that they were returned to their country, while also urging the children’s mother not to be repeatedly involved in the situation, since minors are not allowed to be left alone or to work on public streets.
“We do it in the middle of the bridge because we want to make sure that, since the children are not enrolled in a Mexican school or in any educational center, they are delivered to their country and that the mother will not repeat this situation. The American consulate witnessed the handover, and the mother also agreed not to repeat it.”
“We see that the mother has four other children, and what we are also protecting ourselves against, and what we want to protect ourselves against, is having them come to our city to engage in these kinds of activities, especially leaving the children abandoned all day at an Oxxo.”
Authorities Seek to Prevent Cases of Child Exploitation
He mentioned that this was an isolated case; however, authorities will continue intensifying operations against child exploitation together with the National Guard, State Police, and the security task force.
“It is an isolated case. Yes, there have been some other cases, but specifically, this is the first case that I have had to deal with as an administrative authority, and the prosecutor as well, involving a handover here in the middle of the bridge. We can call it an isolated case, but we will continue intensifying operations. We have also detected other cases of child exploitation along the airport highway, such as Paula Rioja and Río Verde. We are coordinating with the National Guard, the State Police, and the entire security task force. Prosecutor Sergio Salazar and we will continue fighting against child exploitation.”
Authorities are asking citizens to report any minor found working on public streets by calling 800-999-2484.
Source: milenio
