Teen Migrant Rescued in Texas After Being Abandoned by Smugglers

Hector, 18, was found crying and in distress in the Texas desert, having been left behind by the group he paid to cross the border.

Hector, an 18-year-old from Mexico, was abandoned by smugglers in the Texas desert after being unable to keep up with his group.
He used a game camera to signal for help, showing his Mexican passport, which led to his rescue by Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland.
Hector paid smugglers $3,000 to help him cross the border, with another $3,000 due upon reaching his destination in Indianapolis.
He sought to escape cartel threats in Mexico and hoped to rescue his family from the cartel by reaching the United States.
After his rescue, Hector was hospitalized for muscle deterioration likely caused by overuse and was later sent back to Mexico.