ICE Officer Praised for Quick Action in Saving Teenager’s Life in Texas

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer is being recognized for his swift response and the life-saving medical care he provided to a 14-year-old who was found unresponsive on the side of a Texas highway. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the incident occurred on July 2 when ICE law enforcement officer Javier Moralez observed two vehicles stopped along Interstate 37 with an individual lying in a roadside ditch.

Officer Moralez immediately pulled over to assess the situation. Upon reaching the teenager, he began administering critical medical aid. While ensuring that emergency medical services were alerted, he also directed bystanders to help stabilize the victim’s head and neck. Officer Moralez meticulously checked the victim’s airway and breathing, preparing to perform CPR if necessary. The 14-year-old was breathing but remained unconscious. Witnesses reported that the teenager had apparently jumped from a vehicle that was traveling at speeds between 50 and 70 miles per hour.

First responders from the Corpus Christi Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene and took over the victim’s medical care. The teenager was subsequently transported to a local medical facility for further treatment. Officer Moralez provided a detailed report to the responding deputy before clearing the scene.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security highlighted this act as an example of the dedication of ICE officers. Recent incidents also include ICE officers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who rescued a woman trapped in her vehicle after a collision in June. Additionally, in Tampa, Florida, an ICE officer administered life-saving CPR to a six-year-old child found unconscious in a swimming pool, successfully reviving the child in June. In March, an ICE officer assisting TSA operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport performed the Heimlich maneuver on a one-year-old child experiencing a medical emergency, allowing the child to breathe again. Also in February, off-duty ICE law enforcement agents performed CPR on a four-year-old child who was unresponsive after nearly drowning in a hotel swimming pool, leading to the child regaining consciousness before being transported to a medical center.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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