In Texas this year, there has been a significant increase in the number of abandoned babies compared to a decade ago. At least 18 infants have been left behind, double the amount from ten years ago.
According to The Washington Post, the increase in the epidemic is believed to be connected to the abortion restrictions implemented in 2021. Additionally, the limited access to prenatal care has exacerbated the situation. The state of Texas has the highest percentage of women without health insurance in the entire United States.
In Houston, the authorities have successfully identified a parent in four out of the six cases involving abandoned babies in the city this year. Currently, there is only one individual, Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam, an 18-year-old woman from Guatemala, who has been charged with felony child abandonment as of mid-December.
The woman admitted to having limited knowledge about sex education and claimed that she was raped by a relative. Shockingly, it wasn’t until seven months later that she realized she was pregnant. When questioned about the allegations, the relative denied any wrongdoing in an interview with The Post.
According to prosecutors, the migrant teen was captured on parking lot security footage giving birth to the baby and subsequently disposing of it in a dumpster. Her decision to not seek medical assistance at a clinic was driven by her fear of potential deportation proceedings, as she had heard stories of officials taking such actions against migrants.
She expressed uncertainty about what she would 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, a provision that permits parents to safely surrender unharmed newborns up to 60 days old at designated locations without facing legal consequences.
According to the newspaper’s findings, most parents who made the difficult decision to leave their children 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.
They have set aside $165 million this fiscal year for programs that provide alternatives to abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centers. These centers have faced accusations of misleading young women in need of assistance, instead pressuring them to choose childbirth regardless of their desires, ability to care for a child, or financial means.
Several states have dedicated significant funding towards initiatives aimed at raising awareness and providing hotlines to prevent child abandonment.
Texas enacted a law in the previous year that permits the installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. These boxes are placed in the outer walls of fire stations and come with a price tag of approximately $20,000 for installation. They are equipped with climate control and padded drawers. In case a baby is placed in the box, a silent alarm is activated to alert first responders.
The effectiveness of the boxes statewide is still uncertain. Soon after installing one in Lubbock, Texas, a child was discovered in a city dumpster.
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