Authorities in Texas have issued an urgent warning that a teenager who disappeared from outside her home on Christmas Eve could be in 'imminent danger' and may have been trafficked outside the United States.
Vanished During a Routine Morning Walk
Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen at approximately 7 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, outside her residence in Bexar County. According to the sheriff's office, the 17-year-old appeared to be leaving for what her family believed was her normal morning walk.
"Camila’s mother stated that Camila normally goes for a morning walk; however, she became concerned when Camila did not return within a reasonable period of time," officials said. Her mother, Rosario Olmos, who had been sharing a bed with her daughter that night, reported feeling her get up but waited around 90 minutes before checking on her.
An Unusual Disappearance and International Fears
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar confirmed that detectives are exploring all possibilities, including kidnapping and human trafficking. He emphasised the investigation is not confined locally.
"We're also not ruling out that this case may take us outside the borders of the continental United States," Salazar told ABC News. He confirmed Mendoza Olmos is a U.S. citizen and was not detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the Department of Homeland Security monitoring border crossings.
The circumstances are described as 'highly unusual'. Surveillance footage shows her wearing baby blue pyjama shorts, a black hoodie, and white shoes, rummaging through her car before the video cuts off. She left her vehicle at home, taking only her car keys and possibly her driver's licence.
A Desperate Search and Broader Political Context
Family and friends spent Christmas Day searching nearby areas without success. "I only ask God to please bring her back home," her mother pleaded in a local news interview.
The case unfolds against a backdrop of aggressive U.S. immigration enforcement. Since returning to office in January 2025, the Trump administration has pushed policies leading to a sharp increase in non-criminal arrests by federal agents. Internal data shows 59,207 immigrants were in ICE custody as of September 2025.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office at 210-335-6000.
