An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer made the surprising decision to jump into a pool in Florida when he saw a child struggling to stay afloat, a heroic act that comes as the agency faces intense criticism and protests outside immigration detention facilities.
Gregory Simmonds was at a community pool in Pasco County on Florida’s Gulf Coast when he noticed a young child floating unconscious in the water.
Closed-circuit footage from the pool showed Simmonds looking at the child and, without hesitation, jumping into the pool fully clothed and quickly reaching the child to provide assistance.
Simmonds returned the child to the edge of the pond where he was resuscitated on dry land.
As an officer with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Tampa, Simmonds administered CPR to the child until he regained consciousness.
Law enforcement said the child is now expected to make a full recovery, according to ICE.
“This officer quickly jumped into action and provided life-saving medical care to this 6-year-old who drowned,” said Lauren Pace, acting Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security.
“Our agents are truly the best of the best. They put their lives on the line to catch the worst of the worst. Instead of demonizing ICE enforcement, politicians should thank them for removing criminals from their communities.”
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Cpl. J. Leathers added in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that because of Simmonds’ quick thinking and decisive actions — and “his willingness to put himself into action during a serious incident, the child survived and is expected to make a full recovery.”
“His actions directly contributed to saving the child’s life and reflect exceptional courage and selflessness.”
Simmonds’ heroism is just the latest example of DHS officers saving lives in an instant.
In March, an agent supporting the Transportation Security Administration at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Howard Beach, New York, helped save the life of a 1-year-old boy experiencing a medical emergency.
When a father’s voice was heard screaming in the airport lounge, “the agent rushed into action and saved him [their] Life,” according to Senator Markwayne Mullen.
“Despite the endless smears and lies politicians and the media tell about them, our ICE officers show up every day to protect the homeland and their fellow Americans.”
In another case, several off-duty ICE agents saved another child from drowning in a hotel pool in February.
While eating in Plymouth, Minnesota, a woman approached a customer asking for help.
The agents quickly went to the pool where they performed CPR for several minutes until police and emergency services arrived.
The rescues come as ICE agents face protests outside facilities like Delaney Hall in New Jersey, with protesters calling them “fascists” and “mercenaries.”
Fox News’ Bill Melogen contributed to this report.