Caught on cam: Texas state troopers rescue 5-year-old from smugglers

[Ray]

This video shows the moment Texas state troopers rescued a five-year-old girl from smugglers, who carried her across the Rio Grande river and into Texas. 

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the operation was organized by the girl’s mother, who said she found the smugglers online and agreed to pay them $8,000 to get her daughter into the United States. 

Troopers knew to pull the truck over because they saw the girl being carried across the river on a border surveillance camera. 

They began the stop by questioning the mother. 

Officer: Who is this in the driver’s seat? 

Mother: It’s a friend. 

Officer: A friend? How do you know him? 

Mother:  How do I say? Through social media. 

Then they spoke with the child. 

Officer: In the morning did you cross through the river? 

Girl: Yes? 

Officer: Who crossed you through the river? 

Girl:  A man.

Officer: Was it the man that is over there? 

Girl:  No? 

Officer: How did you cross through the river? 

Girl: He carried me. 

Officer: Was this the man who carried you? 

According to Texas DPS, the smuggler, Roman Ibarra, confessed that he was going to be paid $1,000 to smuggle the five-year-old. They arrested and charged him with smuggling of persons younger than 18 years of age. Ibarra is a permanent resident. 

The mother, Dolores Lopez is a temporary resident from Mexico living in North Carolina. The troopers referred her and the child to the Border Patrol. DPS is conducting a follow up investigation into the incident and may pursue charges against the mother after a review by the District Attorney’s office. 

Texas DPS troopers patrolling the border have found more than 100 unaccompanied children crossing into the United States since November 2024. The children have been as young as two-years old.