This year, in Texas alone, a staggering 18 babies have been abandoned, marking a significant increase compared to the number of infants left deserted ten years ago.
According to The Washington Post, the rise in the epidemic is believed to be connected to the abortion restrictions implemented in 2021. This issue is further exacerbated by the challenging access to prenatal care. It is worth noting that Texas has the highest percentage of women without health insurance in the United States.
In Houston, the police have successfully identified a parent in four out of the six cases of abandoned babies in the city this year. As of mid-December, only one individual, an 18-year-old woman named Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam from Guatemala, has been charged with felony child abandonment.
The woman acknowledged that her understanding of sex education was limited and shared that she had been raped by a relative. It was only after seven months had passed since the alleged incident that she realized she was pregnant. In an interview with The Post, the relative denied any wrongdoing.
According to prosecutors, the parking lot security footage captured the migrant teen giving birth to the baby and subsequently abandoning it in a dumpster. The reason for her decision was her fear of going to a clinic, as she had heard stories of officials initiating deportation proceedings against migrants.
She expressed her uncertainty about what to do with the baby when she went into labor and after the child was born. At the time, she was unaware of the state’s safe haven law, which provides parents with the option to safely surrender unharmed newborns up to 60 days old at designated locations without facing legal consequences.
According to the newspaper’s investigation, most of the parents who made the difficult decision to leave their children behind were in dire situations.
State lawmakers have failed to allocate funds for raising awareness to prevent babies from being abandoned, despite the rising number of cases.
The fiscal year budget allocated $165 million to programs that provide alternatives to abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centers.
These centers have faced criticisms for allegedly misleading young women in need of assistance, redirecting their focus towards giving birth, regardless of their personal desires, ability to raise a child, or financial means.
Several states have dedicated significant funding towards raising awareness and implementing hotlines to combat child abandonment.
Texas implemented a law in the previous year that permits the installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. These boxes are specifically placed in the outer walls of fire stations.
The installation of one of these boxes costs approximately $20,000, providing climate-controlled conditions and padded drawers. In the event of a baby being placed inside the box, a silent alarm is triggered to notify first responders.
The effectiveness of the boxes statewide is still uncertain at this early stage. Soon after the installation of one box in Lubbock, Texas, a child was discovered in a city dumpster.
