WATCH: Toddlers dropped over border wall by human traffickers

Two toddlers, ages 3 and 5, were dropped from a 14-foot high section of the US southern border wall into a remote part of New Mexico and were rescued by the US Customs and Border Patrol on Tuesday night.

The graphic footage from US Border Control shows human traffickers dangling the children over the wall one at a time before dropping them. The traffickers then jump back down onto the Mexican side of the border and take off at a run, with no concern for the children, leaving the abandoned the helpless little girls on the north side of the international boundary line.

Responding agents found the three-year-old and five-year-old Ecuadoran children and rendered aid to them. The two toddlers are sisters and both were alert when agents made contact with them. Santa Teresa agents had been alerted to the presence of the toddlers by a camera operator who directed them to the remote location of the incident.

According to the US Border Patrol, human smugglers were responsible for dropping the two toddlers over the border barrier west of Mt. Cristo Rey in the southeastern part of New Mexico.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has touted the Biden administration's "humanitarian approach" to welcoming all unaccompanied minors across the border, called the actions of the human traffickers "morally reprehensible."

Mayorkas full statement read: "The inhumane way smugglers abuse children while profiting off parents’ desperation is criminal and morally reprehensible. Just this month, a young girl died by drowning, a six-month-old was thrown into the river, and two young children were dropped from a wall and left in the desert alone. There can be no doubt that children are exceptionally vulnerable when placed in the hands of smugglers. There is grave risk they will be exploited and harmed.  I applaud our heroic Border Patrol agents who have saved lives this week and every week, while putting their own lives at risk for the greater good of the country."

According to the CBP, the children "were transported to the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station for evaluation by medical personnel. Agents contacted Emergency Medical Services and the toddlers were transported to a local hospital for precautionary reasons and further evaluation. The two girls were medically cleared and currently remain in Border Patrol temporary holding pending placement by Health and Human Services."

Video of the incident was posted online by El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez, who said "I'm appalled by the way these smugglers viciously dropped innocent children from a 14-foot border barrier last night. If not for the vigilance of our Agents using mobile technology, these two tender-aged siblings would have been exposed to the harsh elements of desert environment for hours," stated El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.

"We are currently working with our law enforcement partners in Mexico and attempting to identify these ruthless human smugglers so as to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

The two young children who were dropped into the US over the border barrier were in Border Patrol temporary holding, pending placement by government agencies.

US Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635- 2509.