ICE Officer Saves Drowning Child in Florida Pool Rescue

A six-year-old child is alive today thanks to the swift actions of a federal immigration officer who pulled the youngster from a swimming pool and administered emergency medical care.

Gregory Simmonds, an officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement stationed in Tampa, discovered the child floating unconscious in a pool in Pasco County, Florida, last month. Without hesitation, Simmonds entered the water, retrieved the child, and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the youngster regained consciousness.

The incident occurred on May 16 and represents one of several recent cases in which ICE personnel have intervened in medical emergencies while off duty.

“This officer swiftly sprung to action and delivered life-saving medical care to this six-year-old who drowned,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis of the Department of Homeland Security. “Our agents truly are the best of the best. They put their lives on the line to arrest the worst of the worst.”

Local law enforcement officials commended Simmonds for his decisive response during a critical moment.

“Due to his quick thinking, decisive actions and willingness to place himself into action during a critical incident, the child survived and is expected to make a full recovery,” said Corporal J. Leathers of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. “His actions directly contributed to saving the life of the child and reflect exceptional courage and selflessness.”

The rescue in Florida follows a pattern of ICE officers rendering emergency assistance to children in distress. In March, an ICE officer at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York performed the Heimlich maneuver on a one-year-old child who had stopped breathing during a medical emergency. The child resumed breathing following the officer’s intervention.

Two months earlier, in February, a pair of off-duty ICE officers administered CPR to a four-year-old child discovered unconscious in a Minnesota swimming pool. That child also regained consciousness.

The Department of Homeland Security highlighted these incidents as the agency faces mounting criticism and public demonstrations in several states. Anti-ICE protests have erupted in California, Minnesota, and New York in response to the current administration’s expanded enforcement of immigration laws. Some of these demonstrations have escalated into civil disturbances as activists attempt to interfere with immigration detention operations.

Acting Assistant Secretary Bis addressed this tension directly in her statement. “Instead of demonizing ICE law enforcement, sanctuary politicians should be thanking them for removing criminals from their communities,” she said.

The contrast between the lifesaving actions of federal officers and the hostile reception they have received in certain jurisdictions underscores a broader debate about immigration enforcement in America. While critics focus on detention policies, supporters point to the professionalism and dedication of individual agents who serve their communities both on and off duty.

The child rescued by Officer Simmonds is expected to make a complete recovery, according to medical authorities.