On Thursday, March 26, the Department of Homeland Security released a video and a statement on X praising an ICE agent for his “extraordinary bravery” in saving the life of an infant who “became unresponsive and stopped breathing.” The incident happened at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while travelers were waiting in line for TSA screening.
According to the agency’s statement, the officer, who was stationed at a checkpoint, rushed in to help after hearing the commotion from the child’s family. He took the infant from the parent and immediately began performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Authorities said the child’s breathing was restored after a couple of minutes.
The security footage from inside the airport, included in the post, appears to support the account and has gotten over 2 million views. The identity of the agent was not released.
What People Are Saying About the New York Airport Incident
In the comments section under the post, netizens’ reactions were heavily mixed. Some showed support for the agency as a whole and also praised the officer for his quick response. One person wrote, “Well done to that officer.” Another said, “We love our men and women of ICE👏.” A third commented, “God bless ICE and the hero who just saved that baby’s life,” while a fourth added, “Their service to humanity is priceless.”
Others, however, did not believe the agency deserved praise due to its many controversies. “It is good he helped. I agree with that. What about all the atrocities ICE has previously done?” one comment asked. A skeptical X user said, “Probably staged.” Another added, “Saving a choking infant is the absolute bare minimum you would expect from another human being.”
Fox News reports that the infant was 1 year old, but beyond that, no additional details about the family have been released as of the time of writing.
