UMVA has learned that a heroic act by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer has saved the life of a young child at a community pool in Florida.
The officer, Gregory Simmonds, was at the pool in Pasco County when he noticed a child floating unconscious in the water. Without hesitation, Simmonds jumped into the pool fully clothed and quickly reached the child to render aid.
Closed-circuit footage from the pool showed Simmonds carrying the child back to the edge of the pool where they were resuscitated on dry land. Simmonds, an officer with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Tampa, administered CPR to the child until they regained consciousness.
The child, just 6 years old, is now expected to make a full recovery. Simmonds' swift actions have been hailed as heroic, with Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis praising the officer's life-saving medical care.
"This officer swiftly sprung to action and delivered life-saving medical care to this 6-year-old who drowned," Bis said. "Our agents truly are the best of the best. They put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst."
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office also commended Simmonds, saying his quick thinking and decisive actions directly contributed to saving the life of the child. The officer's heroism reflects exceptional courage and selflessness.
This heroic act is not an isolated incident. In March, an agent supporting the Transportation Security Administration at John F. Kennedy International Airport helped save the life of a 1-year-old experiencing a medical emergency.
And in February, multiple off-duty ICE agents saved another child from drowning in a hotel pool in Minnesota. These rescues come as ICE agents face intense criticism and protests outside immigration detention facilities.
Despite the controversy surrounding the agency, ICE officers continue to demonstrate their bravery and selflessness. Their actions serve as a powerful reminder of the critical role they play in protecting the Homeland and their fellow Americans.
