ICE agent saves ‘unresponsive’ 1-year-old at JFK airport, DHS hails ‘heroic' action
At JFK Airport, as travelers waited in hours-long lines, an infant became unresponsive and stopped breathing. The panic of the child’s family and nearby passengers were heard by an ICE agent stationed at a checkpoint.
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 26, 2026
This heroic officer immediately sprang into action—rushing… pic.twitter.com/JOJaFSEIZK
QUEENS, NEW YORK CITY: A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent saved the life of a 1-year-old boy who stopped breathing at John F Kennedy International Airport, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The incident unfolded on Thursday, March 26 when the child became unresponsive while being held by his father in a security line, prompting panic among nearby passengers as the situation quickly escalated.
Agent saves choking child
According to DHS, the ICE agent was assisting Transportation Security Administration officers at the airport when he heard cries for help and rushed to the scene.
Security footage showed the child in a TSA PreCheck line moments before he stopped breathing. His arms reportedly went limp, triggering alarm as his father sought urgent assistance.
The agent assessed the situation and immediately began performing the Heimlich maneuver on the infant. After several tense seconds, the child started breathing again.
“This heroic officer immediately sprang into action—rushing toward the cries, taking the child, and performing a Heimlich maneuver that restored the infant’s breathing after nearly two minutes,” DHS said.
Paramedics arrived shortly after and evaluated the boy, confirming that he had recovered and was healthy enough to continue travel.
Mullin praises ‘heroic’ action
Markwayne Mullin praised the agent’s swift response, emphasizing the life-saving impact of the intervention.
“The ICE agent sprang into action and saved this one-year-old child’s life. If our agent had not been there and stepped up, this could have been a tragic outcome,” Mullin said.
The ICE agent sprang into action and saved this one-year-old child’s life.
— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) March 26, 2026
If our agent had not been there and stepped up, this could have been a tragic outcome.
Despite constant attacks from the media and sanctuary politicians, these agents show up every day to protect the… https://t.co/YYMLyWZafn
He added, “Despite constant attacks from the media and sanctuary politicians, these agents show up every day to protect the Homeland and their fellow Americans. We are extremely grateful for their heroic action today.”
Authorities highlighted the role of training and preparedness in enabling such rapid responses during emergencies.
Second rescue in weeks
The rescue marks the second instance in recent weeks where ICE agents have intervened to save a child’s life.
On February 20, off-duty ICE agents rescued a 4-year-old boy in Plymouth after he nearly drowned in a hotel swimming pool.
The agents were inside a nearby restaurant when a distressed woman sought help for the unresponsive child. They performed CPR until emergency responders arrived, ultimately stabilizing the boy.
“If our agents had not been there and stepped up, this would have been a tragic outcome,” ICE said in a statement following that incident. “Because of their training, these two agents were able to save a life.”
Officials reiterated that such incidents underscore the importance of emergency preparedness and rapid response, particularly in high-traffic public spaces like airports.
