Women who become first-time mothers later in their lives increase their chances of living into their 90s, a new University of California San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine study has found. 

The study, published online in the American Journal of Public Health on Nov. 17, found an association between a woman's age at childbirth and parity, or the number of times a woman has been pregnant, and survival. 

“The findings indicate that women with two to four term pregnancies compared with a single term pregnancy were also more likely to live at least nine decades," said Aladdin Shadyab, PhD, lead author of the study with the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UC San Diego School of Medicine, in a statement.

The study examined 20,248 women who were part of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a national longitudinal investigation of women. The women were followed for up to 21 years. 

Of the participants, 54 percent of the woman survived to 90 years old. 

Women who lived to 90 years old were more likely to be college graduates, married and have a high income and were less likely to be obese or have a history of chronic disease, the study found. 

“Our findings do not suggest that women should delay having a child, as the risk of obstetric complications, including gestational diabetes and hypertension, is higher with older maternal ages," said Shadyab in a statement. "It is possible that surviving a pregnancy at an older age may be an indicator of good overall health, and as a result, a higher likelihood of longevity."

At the time of pregnancy, the woman who were older may have already been of higher social and economic status, and therefore, more likely to live longer, he said. 

The San Diego State Men's Soccer team is hosting the University of Nevada Las Vegas on Thursday in the first round of the 2016 NCAA tournament.

This is the Aztecs' first NCAA bid since 2006. San Diego State has showcased a tremendous campaign this year posting a 9-4-5 overall record while finishing third in the Pac-12 race. They’re being acknowledged for their work as they are ranked 19th in the latest NSCAA Coaches Poll and 15th by Soccer America.

Head Coach Lev Kirshner knows how hard his squad has worked and is not surprised they’ve been mentioned along with some of the best teams in the nation.

“I think the biggest thing to that point without looking ahead is the preparation that (gives) us to the opportunity of getting deep into the tournament,” Kirshner said.

“We are playing the best competition the country provides. We have beaten them; we have tied them. We are ready for whatever comes across the lines. We have confidence that we are capable of finding success against anybody we play. This group is resilient. They’re tough. They’re defensive. Our trademark has been outstanding.”

The Aztecs hold a league-leading 11 shutouts during the 2016 season and have allowed the third-fewest goals through 18 games in program history with 12. Even with all the success they’ve had this year, the team wants to go all the way.

Kirshner touched on their journey saying, “It’s been a long delay. We’ve had a number of teams that have sat on the bubble looking in and just weren’t fortunate enough to get that selection at that time. But you look at us now, and it’s a no-brainer. We’ve accomplished quite a bit during the year. The team mentality and buying into what we’ve always coached here has been phenomenal.”

Kirshner also gave credit to the more seasoned players on the team for stepping up when they were needed.

“The leadership of our senior core has really brought along the youth that is a very talented and humble group. In the end, we’re not satisfied with just getting a bid. We’re here to make a run and very excited for the community that we’re hosting our first NCAA game since 1989.”

The squad is obviously focused, but the excitement of hosting an NCAA tournament game is not lost on them.

“This is such a great game for the community. We have a great soccer community here and to be able to have this match on the (Sports) Deck is phenomenal,” said Kirshner. “On the back side, these guys absolutely deserved it. What they’ve done and accomplished this year to get ourselves in this position. We weren’t sure if we would get (to) host. We knew we would get in, but it was well-earned and well-deserved.”

The winner of tonight’s game will face off against the University of Denver on Sunday, November 20th.

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy received a $90,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday that will fund an educational watershed project benefiting elementary school students.

Third, fourth and fifth-grade students at four underserved Escondido elementary schools will learn about environmental protection and conservancy through the hands-on Our Living Watershed project hosted by the conservancy in Encinitas.

The project’s three main goals are to instill a life-long conservation ethic in the region’s youth, develop environmental education skills of the conservancy’s volunteers and partnering teachers and to protect the Escondido Creek Watershed.

“As we head into San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy’s 30th Anniversary, we are proud to be recognized for our conservation education program,” said Doug Gibson, the Conservancy’s Executive Director and Principal Scientist. “Support from EPA will allow us to instill a conservation ethic among thousands of elementary students for a cleaner and brighter future for all.”

The project is expected to impact more than 2,000 students, teachers and their family members.

The EPA has awarded more than $68 million in grants since 1992. The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy is just one of four projects in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region that received an environmental education grant.

A man wanted on multiple felony warrants held law enforcement officials at bay in Serra Mesa for more than six hours during a standoff.

The standoff began around 4:42 p.m. on the 8600 block of Hurlbut Street just south of Aero Drive, near Montgomery Field, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed.

The San Diego Sheriff Department's Fugitive Task force spotted the 38-year-old suspect on Hurlbut Street around 4:30 p.m. 

The suspect was holed up in a second floor apartment since just before 5 p.m., deputies said. 

At one point, the man had his five-year-old niece with him, but released her. 

Officials have fired four shots into the apartment in an attempt to get the suspect to come out. Witnesses say a less lethal bean bag ammunition was used. 

Witnesses said the family was nearby and had tried to encourage the man to come out peacefully. 

Around 9 p.m., they fire 2 more less lethal rounds into the apartment.

The suspect surrendered peacefully just before 11 p.m.

Residents in a two block radius of the apartment complex were asked to shelter in place and stay behind the police line.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

Mortgage rates have gone up about half a percentage point since the presidential election.

It could be a result of foreign and American investors pulling out of the bond market because Trump’s win or it could be a continuation of a trend that’s been in the works for a long time.

Despite the reason, financial experts say it’s no reason to panic or give up hope on your dream home.

In San Diego, where home prices are already steep, the slightest shifts in rates, can hit hard.

“With a $400,000 loan, if that rate goes up half a percent, that may disqualify you from purchasing that home,” said Matthew Shaver, a senior mortgage consultant with Finance of America.

For a typical 30-year fixed mortgage, a half percentage point bump on a $500,000 loan – the median cost of a home in San Diego –would increase the monthly mortgage payment about $150. That could cost $30,000 to $60,000 over the lifetime of the loan, depending on how much down payment is made.

Mortgage rates follow the bond market in an opposite direction, rising as the bond market drops.

“The day after the election, the bond market got slammed, just hammered. A massive sell-off,” Shaver said.

But that isn’t the only possibly explanation for the rate bump. Last December, the Federal Reserve had to increase a key rate by a quarter-percentage point, after holding out as long as possible to make the change. Mortgage rates were expected to rise and were already on that trajectory by mid-October.

So what does it mean for borrowers?

Shaver says it’s not the end of the world. Mortgage rates remain at historic lows.

“Don’t panic,” he said. “I think because of everything I follow, and the charts I see, the technical analysis, the bond market will stabilize. It already has stabilized yesterday and today.”

He said some of his clients are choosing to wait it out.

Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate, said he thinks the sharp rise in mortgage rates of the last week can be attributed to speculation that a Trump administration is going to mean more government borrowing, more government spending on, for example, infrastructure and a border wall.

McBride said it’s probable mortgage rates will continue to rise, but it’s no reason to accelerate house hunting.

“You don’t rush to buy a house any more than you’d rush to get married because of a sale at the bridal shop,” McBride said.

In Southern California, a seller’s market where homes get offers the same day they are put on the market, rising mortgage rates might not be entirely bad. Higher interest rates knock some potential buyers out of market, shifting the demand (and a tiny percentage of the power) back toward the buyer.

Still, Danielle Dychter says she’s glad she just refinanced her Scripps Ranch home.

“We had been keeping an eye on (the market) and we feel pretty lucky we got locked into a low rate in October,” Dychter said. “We’re locked in for the next 30 years.”

Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar will be conducting a series of controlled burns from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The burns are part of MCAS Miramar Aircraft Rescue and Fire Station squadron training.

Flames and smoke will be visible from nearby roadways but roadways, but MCAS Miramar does not expect any visibility restrictions.

San Diego County's Regional Airport Authority is considering an additional tax on ride-hailing companies to offset some of the environmental concerns in light of their popularity.

Ride-hailing applications like Uber and Lyft were allowed to do business at San Diego International Airport a year and a half ago. 

The use of Uber and Lyft have become so popular that the Airport Authority is looking for ways to manage the unexpected increase.

Ever since the companies were permitted to function at the airport, business has been great, airport officials said. But the increased activity has led to more cars, traffic and contamination in the area, including concerns over greenhouse gas emissions. 

At Lindbergh Field, ride-hailing companies have taken over an estimated 60 percent of the transportation market.

"In terms of consumer response, it's been overwhelmingly positive," said Angela Shafer-Payne, San Diego Airport's Vice President of Operations. "Operationally we've dealt with some hiccups. There's a lot of vehicles coming into the airport now that we are working through and I think we have been successful in trying to figure out the best path for the TNC's to get in and out of the airport."

Before any new tax is voted on, airport authorities are asking for statistics from the ride-sharing companies. Some of that data includes how many rides include carpools, the year and make of the car, and more. 

The purpose is to assess the greenhouse gas emissions that are set off by the transportation cars.

Passengers who take a taxi or an uber to the airport already pay a tax.

If yet another tax is approved, it would be charged directly to the transportation company. However, this also opens the door for companies to increase their fees.

On Thursday, the Board decided to extend the pilot program for another two months before it votes on a tax.

Taxi drivers are frustrated with the situation. They argue they have to comply with regulations that other transportation companies don't have to worry about.

Some of Google's unwitting users are learning a harsh lesson: If you violate the company's policies, it can abruptly cut you off from your Gmail account, online photos and other vital digital services.

Several people who recently bought Google's new Pixel phone on behalf of a New Hampshire dealer are now suffering that punishment after the company detected their online purchases and judged they violated its terms of service. Those rules, outlined in a document that few people read closely, forbid the purchase of the Pixel for "commercial" resale.

"There isn't an hour that doesn't go by that I don't think about the enormity of what Google has done to me," said one of the affected resellers, Shmuel Super of Brooklyn, New York. "This is like a digital death sentence."

SELL YOUR PHONE, LOSE YOUR ACCOUNT

Super and his fellow resellers got into trouble for buying up to five Pixel phones from Google's online store and having them delivered to New Hampshire for resale. They received $5 for each phone. As of Sunday, some started finding themselves locked out of their Google accounts.

In a Thursday statement, Google described the resale arrangement as a "scheme" devised by a dealer looking to sell the Pixels at marked-up prices in violation of its policies.

Google declined to say how many people were affected by the account lockdown. DansDeals , a consumer-focused website that first reported Google's crackdown, concluded that more than 200 people had been blocked from their Google accounts after talking to the New Hampshire dealer behind the Pixel buying spree. The Associated Press was unsuccessful in its efforts to identify and interview the dealer.

The crackdown may come as a surprise to the hundreds of millions of people who now routinely rely on Google, Facebook, Apple and other tech companies as the caretakers of their digital lives. Few of the people involved in this situation appear to have backed up their data outside of Google.

Google said it plans to restore the accounts of customers who it believes were unaware of the rules, although the company didn't specify how long that might take.

LIVING WITHOUT GOOGLE

Once they figured out why they were being locked out, the exiled consumers realized how dependent they had become on Google as the custodian of their digital communications, records and other mementoes.

Some said they couldn't retrieve confirmation numbers for upcoming flights or notices about an upcoming credit-card payment. Others couldn't fetch work documents or medical records. Some started getting phone calls from friends, family and colleagues wondering why they weren't responding to emails.

Like other two other people interviewed by the AP, Super said he had no idea that he was violating Google's policies when he bought the Pixels for the New Hampshire dealer. He can't believe Google would do something as extreme as locking him out of his account without warning, rather than just banning him from buying its phones in the future.

"Google's slogan is 'Don't be evil,' but to me, there is nothing more evil that what Google has done here," Super said.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Some of the Pixels purchased for resale were delivered before Google recognized the violations and meted out a punishment spelled out in a separate terms-of-service document . "We may suspend or stop providing our services to you if you do not comply with our terms or policies or if we are investigating suspected misconduct," Google warns in one section.

Google doesn't give any advance notice before it shuts down an account, and doesn't make distinctions between minor and major violations. Affected users can appeal for reinstatement, though it's unclear how long that might take or what criteria Google uses in such cases.

Apple also forbids online purchases of iPhones for resale, although its terms of service say only that the company reserves the right to cancel any order suspected of breaking the rule.

Daniel Levy, who has been locked out from his Google account since Monday, said he has learned a hard lesson, though not necessarily the one the company intended.

"They confiscated my property and shouldn't be trusted," said Levy, who lives in Lakewood, New Jersey. "I will never use their services again."

Former University of San Diego Torero Kris Bryant has another title: National League Most Valuable Player.

The 24-year-old third baseman helped lead the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series Championship in 108 years, finishing the regular season with 39 home runs and 102 RBI’s. Bryant capped off the post season with three homers and eight RBI.

The USD product is the youngest player to win a World Series and MVP in the same season since Cal Ripken Jr. back in 1983. He is also the Cubs first MVP since Sammy Sosa won the award back in 1998.

Bryant has succeeded at every level.

At USD, he was named College Player of the year in 2013. He also received the award for Minor League Player of the Year the following year, NL Rookie of the Year last season, and now MVP.

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy was the runner up, with Los Angeles Dodgers Corey Seager finishing third. Bryant’s teammate Anthony Rizzo would take fourth place.

Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout was named American League MVP; this is his second MVP award for the young 25-year old Center Fielder.

An Oceanside Police Officer made a surprising discovery during a traffic stop on Thursday—finding more than a million dollars worth of drugs inside the suspect vehicle.

Ricardo Lujan, 44, a resident of San Ysidro, was arrested and charged in federal court in connection to the drug bust.

During a traffic stop around 12:40 a.m. on Harbor Drive in Oceanside, an officer found methamphetamine and cocaine hidden in the floorboards, center console, door panels and other areas of the vehicle.

Approximately 89.50 kilograms of cocaine and 68.90 kilograms of methamphetamine were found during the search.

The officer had noticed that Lujan was driving a vehicle with expired tags and stopped him, according to U.S. Attorney's Office. A Border Patrol K-9 alerted law enforcement of the narcotics.

When agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the San Diego Narcotics Task Force searched Lujan's car, they found 99 packages filled with cocaine and 58 packages of methamphetamine.

The narcotics combined are worth more than $2 million.

Lujan is expected to appear in court again on Friday.

A new Interim Superintendent was named for the Poway Unified School District on Thursday.

Tony Apostle, Ph.D, was unanimously approved to serve as the superintendent by the Board of Education. Apostle will replace Mel Robertson, Ph.D. who has served in the position since April.

Former Superintendent John Collins was fired in July, 2016—he was placed on administrative leave in April pending the outcome of an internal audit requested by the Board of Education.

According to the audit, Collins allegedly collected more than $345,000 in unauthorized pay over the past several years.

Apostle will serve as the Interim Superintendent until a permanent replacement is found, according to the district.

He has 37 years of experience working in education, including as a teacher and Superintendent in the state of Washington. 

A 2-month old baby kidnapped by his mother and taken to Mexico is now back in the U.S. and admitted to Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego, the father told NBC 7 on Thursday.

Baby Maximus Garcia was kidnapped last Tuesday from the South Bay Womens Recovery Center in National City after a Child Protective Services (CPS) employee left the baby unsupervised with his mother Erika Ramos Saucedo. 

The 36-year old woman did not have custody to Maximus.

She fled to Mexico through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

After a three-day search, authorities found both the mother and son safe in Mazatlán, Mexico. Since then, Maximus had been held at a foster home.

"Yesterday, I had a visit with my son and he has bad congestion. He was very nauseous and sleepy when I saw him," said Jose Garcia, the baby's father.

The 41-year old says no one has contacted him to let him know how Maximus is doing. 

"I would appreciate a phone call tonight letting me know [my] son is okay and he's back safe but I don’t even get that courtesy call. I don’t," Garcia told NBC 7.

Saucedo was left alone with Maximus even though it was supposed to be a supervised visit, according to the National City Police Department (NCPD). CPS reported the kidnapping to the NCPD at 11:53 a.m. Tuesday, more than two hours after Maximus was taken.

"I don’t wish this upon [anybody] in this world," Garcia said.

He added that his son is suffering because someone else made a mistake.

Two (CPS) employees were placed on administrative leave, a spokesperson with San Diego County confirmed with NBC 7 on Tuesday.

The county is investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, Garcia said he will do what it takes to see his son.

"I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all. Tomorrow in the morning, I'm going to go seek answers if I can get any--where is my son is at? I need to know," he said.

A Vista woman was one of 23 federally indicted in a methamphetamine conspiracy out of Indiana, U.S. Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced Thursday. 

Amanda Nelson Craft, 40, was arrested by FBI Agents at her residence in Vista Thursday on an arrest warrant issued out of the Southern District of Indiana.

The 23 individuals face federal charges for allegedly dealing methamphetamine on the Southwest side of Indianapolis. 

“Narcotics dealing spawns increased violence in our neighborhoods,” said Minkler in a statement. “Those that are in the business of dealing drugs in this community can expect the full brunt of the federal hammer and the consequences that follow.”

Law enforcement officials also collected evidence from the home on Guajome Lane Road. Craft is being charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.

Law enforcement officials first began investigating in early 2016 when they learned an organization was bringing large quantities of methamphetamine and other narcotics into Indianapolis neighborhoods. 

Officials served 40 warrants at various locations Thursday morning and collectively seized 94 firearms, 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 35 pounds of marijuana, 1 kilogram of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of heroin and $85,000 in cash, according to the U.S. Attorney. 

No other information was immediately available.

A Camp Pendleton Marine veteran met on Thursday with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to call on the Obama administration to bring his father back from Mexico.

Jorge Alvarez said his father, Jose Alvarez, was deported to Mexico in February after his car was pulled over in Long Beach for having a broken headlight.

He was a legal resident in the 1980s, but a drug conviction in the 90’s changed that. After serving time in prison he lived in the country as an undocumented immigrant. When officials discovered this, Alvarez was immediately deported.

Now Jorge Alvarez is hoping President Obama will grant his father humanitarian parole. And they’re worried about the incoming administration.

“It’s very urgent because Donald trump has run on the fact that he wants to deport many immigrants,” Jorge Alvarez said.

Southwestern College students protested the election of Donald J. Trump by marching across their campus, holding signs and banners. 

The peaceful protest took place Thursday afternoon at the college's Chula Vista campus. 

"While his election might not worry some, it worries me because his election is opening doors for some of the worst people in this country," the event organizer said on Facebook. "People are legitimately scared and it's up to us to stand up and fight against this."

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

Humanitarian groups in San Diego are wondering how the new Trump administration might impact their programs.

This week, several organizations gathered for discussions on refugee policies. On Thursday, the discussion focused on "Refugees in America – Post Election.”

The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program will help bring 110,000 people into the United States this year, said David Murphy, executive director of the International Rescue Committee. Last year, 3,500 refugees settled in San Diego.

Murphy says the program has enjoyed bi-partisan support, but is concerned what the new administration might bring.

“My hope is we will see the refugee resettlement program continue, and for the last week, we’ve actually seen an outpouring of support from local San Diegans,” he said.

Even though, the refugees typically go through a year’s-long security vetting process, Murphy is concerned refugees are being lumped in with other groups because of unsettling rhetoric during the presidential campaign.

“The refuges, because of political dialogue have been deemed unsafe, they’re not security vetted, they’re all terrorists, when, in fact, they are people fleeing from terrorism," Murphy said.

Though it remains to be seen what, if anything, will happen to the resettlement program, others humanitarian leaders are encouraging citizens to be pro-active and open to welcoming refugees.

“Our generation has a chance to say we reject hateful rhetoric. We stand by refugees. Or they’re going to be spectators in a time where we scapegoat Muslims,” said Ramla Sahid, executive direction of the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans.

In a campaign season wrought with unsubstantiated claims of a rigged presidential election, now a tight local race could be fueling claims of voter fraud.

The latest numbers show Democrat Doug Applegate about 4,600 votes behind Republican incumbent Darrell Issa in the race to represent the 49th Congressional District.

The race is tight, which is why both sides have hired observers to watch provisional ballots being counted.

But the observers cost money.

In a email to his supporters to raise money, Issa claimed that "the liberals are trying to steal the election."

He is concerned provisional ballots, which are from voters who for various reasons may or may not be eligible to have their votes counted, are not trending in his favor.

In the letter, Issa also writes: "Once the count is that close, democrats will attempt to force the registrars to allow thousands of illegal unregistered voters to influence the election."

"We cannot allow our election to be corrupted by outside influences and illegal votes," he wrote to his supporters.

“We will verify all provisional ballots cast at polling places to determine whether they are eligible to be counted,” said Michael Wu, from the San Diego Registrar of Voters.

Issa's spokesperson, Calvin Moore, said the email was sent to create a sense of urgency about the close race and the need for money to hire lawyers and observers. He said that’s something Applegate is doing, and something traditionally done in every close race.

Applegate spoke with NBC 7 on the phone. He called this consistent behavior from Issa, to make allegations without proof.

The University of California has created new guidelines on sexual harassment for its governing board in response to a widely publicized incident last month in which one of its regents was caught on tape asking a female employee if he could hold her breasts.

The regent in question, media mogul Norman J. Pattiz, sat silently and voted in favor of the new standards, which were unanimously approved Thursday during a two-day UC Board of Regents meeting in San Francisco.

"Pervert!" shouted out one heckler from the public gallery, when Pattiz spoke on an unrelated subject.

Under the new policy, all regents are now required to take the university's training program in sexual harassment prevention, as do employees at UC's 10 campuses.

Regents can also now face sanctions if they violate the university's sexual harassment or ethical conduct codes - in their public as well as private lives.

It was not yet clear if Pattiz could face disciplinary measures retroactively for a violation of the new sexual harassment policy, UC spokesman Ricardo Vazquez said.

Pattiz is the founder of America's largest radio network, Westwood One, and CEO of Courtside Entertainment Group, which produces radio shows and podcasts. In May, he entered a Los Angeles studio where comedian Heather McDonald was taping a podcast commercial for a memory-foam bra.

She flubbed some of her lines, and Pattiz asked: "Can I hold your breasts? Would that help?" and showed his hands, saying, "These are memory foam."

McDonald went public with the recording last month, prompting outrage and calls for the Board of Regents to take action. Pattiz told the Los Angeles Times that he "deeply regrets" the comments.

At the time, the Board of Regents chairwoman Monica Lozano issued a statement calling Pattiz' actions "inappropriate and highly offensive" but said the board's policies did not specifically address the behavior of members while they're not engaged in university business.

"I intend to bring forward new policies that will remedy this," Lozano said in her statement last month, adding that the board could not tolerate behavior that violates the university's ethical policies.

Pattiz was not immediately available for comment, but on Wednesday publicly stated that he had already begun the sexual harassment training program, Vazquez said.

While some new faces look to lead the Democratic National Committee, others hope Vice President Joe Biden will take the job as committee chair, NBC News reported.

It's not clear if Biden is interested and his office declined to comment. But those behind the idea are making a concerted effort to line up support in the hope that it will convince the vice president to take the helm of a party in crisis.

The idea would be for the DNC chairmanship to be split into two roles, as it was during Bill Clinton's presidency. Biden would serve as the party's figurehead, spokesperson, fundraiser and cheerleader, while someone else runs day-to-day operations. 

Biden, who's one of the least wealthy officials in D.C., is said to be considering numerous lucrative private sector options for his post-government life.

The world was horrified by images of a wounded Syrian child sitting dazed and bloodied in an ambulance after an airstrike in Aleppo in August, but a 6-year-old from New York who offered the boy a home lifted peoples' spirits.

That boy has now gone to Washington to meet President Barack Obama.

The White House posted a copy in late September of the handwritten letter from "Alex" to President Obama. Alex asks the president to bring the boy, identified as Omran Daqneesh, "who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria" to his home in Scarsdale.

"Can you please go get him and bring him," he wrote. "We'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother."

On Thursday night, the White House posted video of Alex and his family meeting the president last week.

"I was very proud of you," the president told Alex in an Oval Office meeting.

Obama shared Alex's letter at a UN refugee summit in New  York City in September, telling world leaders that the letter was from a child "who hasn't learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of where they’re from, or how they look, or how they pray, and who just understands the notion of treating somebody that is like him with compassion, with kindness."

"We can all learn from Alex," the president noted.

A video of the boy reading his letter has been viewed more than 28 million times on Facebook. 

The Syrian boy's three siblings and parents were also rescued from the rubble after their building in Aleppo was bombed. His 10-year-old brother died as a result of injuries. One of the cameramen who filmed him said he had never seen such a look of shock on a child's face. 

The image of the stunned and weary looking boy, sitting in an orange chair inside an ambulance covered in dust and with blood on his face, encapsulated the horrors inflicted on the war-ravaged northern city and was widely shared on social media.