Texas fire department receives newborn under new safe haven law
Caroline MolloyA young Dallas couple surrendered their newborn at a local fire station this week, using the state’s Safe Haven Law to ensure their child’s safety and future.
According to Texas Right to Life, the couple approached firefighters at Garland Fire Department and explained that they were unable to provide for the baby. Rather than resorting to unsafe alternatives, they made the difficult decision to legally relinquish custody, granting the infant a chance at adoption through a compassionate process.
“This is a tough decision for any parent,” said James Dugger, the department’s media relations officer. “To stop and think about what they could do in this situation — rather than abandoning or harming the baby — they made the right decision.”
Medical personnel immediately assessed both the baby and the mother and transported them to a nearby hospital, where both were found to be in good health.
The couple’s decision was protected under the Baby Moses Law, Texas’ version of the Safe Haven legislation, which allows parents to legally surrender infants up to 60 days old at hospitals, fire stations, or police departments that are staffed 24/7. The law guarantees anonymity and freedom from legal consequences, aiming to prevent infant abandonment and harm.
“If there’s a young couple or a young mother on her own that thinks there’s no option of what to do with their baby there is an option,” Dugger added. “This is a great safe option to give that baby a chance at a normal healthy life.”
According to Texas Right to Life, experts say there is no shortage of families ready to adopt. Between one and two million families in the US are currently waiting to adopt a newborn. That translates to roughly 30 to 40 prospective adoptive families for every baby placed for adoption at birth.
This statistic challenges a persistent myth, the article adds: that the foster care system would be overwhelmed if more babies were placed for adoption. In fact, newborn placements typically bypass the foster system entirely, going straight into adoptive homes.
While Safe Haven laws offer one solution for parents in crisis, advocates emphasize that surrender is not the only path. For mothers who wish to parent but lack resources or support, pregnancy resource centers across Texas offer counseling, supplies, housing referrals, and ongoing guidance.
