In a recent disclosure, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that under the Biden administration, numerous unaccompanied migrant children were placed with sponsors who later subjected them to abuse, including sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Children Placed in Harm’s Way
The DHS acknowledged that some unaccompanied minors were released to adults with serious criminal backgrounds, including convictions for child pornography and human trafficking. In certain cases, these sponsors impregnated the children entrusted to their care.
Laszlo Baksay, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated, “Children’s safety and security is non-negotiable.” He attributed the failures to inadequate safeguards inherited from the previous administration, which allowed vulnerable children to fall into the hands of criminals.
Overwhelmed System and Relaxed Vetting
The surge of unaccompanied minors at the southern border overwhelmed the immigration system, leading to expedited releases from overcrowded detention facilities. To manage the influx, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) relaxed vetting requirements for sponsors. Analysts argue that these changes resulted in unsafe placements for many children.
Under the Biden administration, sponsor placements sometimes exceeded 18,000 per month, making thorough background checks challenging. This rapid placement process compromised the safety and well-being of the minors involved.
Disturbing Findings from Welfare Checks
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division conducted welfare checks on unaccompanied migrant children. Investigators discovered that some children lived in neglectful conditions, while others were placed with sponsors who had criminal histories, including assault, drug trafficking, prostitution, and attempted murder.
In the most troubling cases, ICE identified sponsors as the fathers of pregnant minors, highlighting severe lapses in the placement process.
Challenges in Tracking and Responding
Federal watchdogs reported that the government lost contact with tens of thousands of unaccompanied children and failed to monitor hundreds of thousands more adequately. Child trafficking expert Jarrod Sadulski noted that investigators attempted 100,000 welfare checks but successfully located only about 5,000 children—a mere 5% success rate.
Additionally, HHS reportedly failed to respond to over 65,000 calls to its abuse hotline for unaccompanied alien children, indicating significant shortcomings in the system designed to protect these minors.
Heartbreaking Cases Highlight Urgency
At a recent Republican National Lawyers Association conference, former ICE Director Tom Homan recounted the rescue of a pregnant 14-year-old girl who had been trafficked and forced into prostitution.
“We just found one two days ago. A 14-year-old little girl. Living with two adult males. Who trafficked her,” Homan shared. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable children.
The DHS’s revelations underscore critical failures in the handling of unaccompanied migrant children, leading to instances of abuse and exploitation. These findings call for immediate reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of minors entering the U.S. immigration system.
