In one week, Mexico finds 370 child migrants apparently abandoned by traffickers

MEXICO CITY – Authorities in Mexico say that in one week they found 370 migrant children who had apparently been abandoned by the traffickers they paid to take them to the United States.

The National Migration Institute says the children were rescued in 14 Mexican states between March 17 and 24, and the youngest was 9 years old. It said 163 of the children under 18 were found traveling alone. Most migrants heading through Mexico to the United States come from Central America.

The institute said in a statement Saturday that the children told officials the traffickers abandoned them after being paid between $3,000 and $5,000.

It said most of the children showed signs of extreme fatigue, dehydration and foot injuries, along with disorientation at being abandoned at unknown, often dangerous, locations.