Heroes: Abandoned one-year-old rescued by CBP at Arizona-Mexico border

A U.S. Border Patrol agent on Monday rescued a one-year-old Guatemalan boy who was abandoned by a coyote smuggler, near the shoreline of the Colorado River on the Arizona-Mexico border.

Images released by Border Patrol chief Raúl Ortiz show the moment the coyote left the boy near the river and ran back to the Mexican side.

Immediately after the abandonment, an agency unit approached the place, and an agent got out of the vehicle to rescue the child.

"A one-year-old Guatemalan boy was abandoned on the banks of the Colorado River Monday afternoon by a smuggler who took him across the border and then left him alone near the water. Thanks to our agent's quick response, the tragedy was avoided!" Ortiz commented on his Twitter profile.

A one-year-old Guatemalan child was abandoned along the Colorado River Monday afternoon by a smuggler who took him across the border and then left him to fend for himself along the water’s edge. Thanks to our agent’s quick response, tragedy was averted! pic.twitter.com/mY2K7t59VE

— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) March 23, 2023

The U.S. official also shared a photo of the hero of the day: the Border Patrol agent with the child in his arms.

For his part, John Mennell, spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), told CNN that the minor will be under the supervision of the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Mennell also confirmed that the child has already been identified, but for security reasons the agency will not make this information public.

Picture of child safe with an Agent. pic.twitter.com/DZr0VMUNTG

— Chief Raul Ortiz (@USBPChief) March 23, 2023