The two Ecuadorian sisters dumped by human smugglers over the US-Mexico border wall have been reunited with their parents in New York City, officials said Wednesday.
The girls, Yareli, 3, and Yasmina, 5, had been in limbo since they were “abandoned by human traffickers” at the fence near El Paso on March 30, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility.
“We can report that the girls have been in New York City with their parents since last Saturday [April 17],” the agency said in an email.
“Our consular offices have maintained direct contact with the girls’ parents and have always respected their desire to preserve their privacy regarding their reunification.”
It was unclear if the girls would be staying in the US permanently. Ecuador’s ministry did not immediately comment on the issue.
The girls’ parents, Yolanda Macas Tene and Diego Vacacela Aguilar, had left their daughters behind at their home in Jaboncillo, Ecuador, to travel to the US, relatives told Telemundo.
Lauro Vacacela, who is the girls’ paternal grandfather, said his son had paid a human smuggler to take his kids to the border.
“[The parents] wanted to be with them, their mother suffered a lot, for that reason they decided to take them,” he told the network.
Surveillance video showed the girls being dropped off over the 14-foot fence before the smugglers took off on the other side, leaving the girls by themselves.
Saturday’s family reunion occurred with help from the US Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Ecuadorian officials said.
They said they have maintained “permanent contact” with all US agencies involved in the case.
“In each of our actions, the interest, well-being and safety of the minors and their families have always been safeguarded,” the statement said.
The US Department of Health and Human Services didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.
Magdalena Nunez, of the Consulate of Ecuador in Houston, previously told The Post that the sisters were “doing very well” following their ordeal.
“Physically, they are perfect — emotionally, obviously, they went through a hard time, but I guarantee you right now they are in good health and they are conversing,” Nunez added. “They are very alert, very intelligent.”
