Senate investigation reveals Biden administration’s obstruction in migrant child trafficking probes, raising alarming questions about child safety and government transparency.
At a Glance
- Senate report accuses HHS of stonewalling information requests on unaccompanied migrant children
- Approximately 250,000 unaccompanied children entered the U.S. in the past two years
- Investigation uncovers weakened vetting processes for child sponsors
- Report highlights rise in illegal child labor cases among migrant youth
- Bipartisan solutions called for to strengthen child protection measures
Senate Report Exposes Alarming Failures in Migrant Child Protection
A groundbreaking Senate report spearheaded by Senator Bill Cassidy has uncovered deeply concerning details about the federal government’s handling of unaccompanied migrant children. The investigation reveals that Health and Human Services (HHS) officials repeatedly stonewalled information requests and hindered Congressional oversight efforts regarding the safety of approximately 250,000 unaccompanied minors who entered the United States in the past two years.
The report exposes weakened vetting processes for child sponsors and raises alarming questions about the administration’s transparency in addressing child exploitation. Federal authorities have reportedly lost track of tens of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children since fiscal year 2019, heightening concerns about their welfare and safety.
NEW: @SenBillCassidy ranking member of the @GOPHELP Committee releases findings of an investigation into the Unaccompanied Minors program under the Office of Refugee Resettlement, “The exploitation of unaccompanied children has been documented for years. The Biden-Harris… pic.twitter.com/NT3dG5celD
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) November 19, 2024
Administration Accused of Obstructing Investigations
Senator Cassidy’s report accuses the Biden-Harris administration of obstructing both Congressional and state-led investigations into the exploitation and trafficking of unaccompanied alien children. The administration’s alleged stonewalling of oversight efforts has raised serious questions about its commitment to protecting vulnerable migrant youth.
“The exploitation of unaccompanied children has been documented for years. The Biden-Harris administration should have fixed its policies to protect these children, but instead it subverted Congress and states to cover up its mistakes. This lack of transparency to the American people is reprehensible. It is hard to see this as anything other than an attempt to shield the Biden-Harris administration from accountability.” – Sen. Bill Cassidy
The report alleges that top administration officials were aware of the increase in illegal child labor but failed to take adequate steps to prevent it. This inaction, coupled with weakened sponsor vetting processes, has potentially enabled child exploitation on a significant scale.
Under Border Czar Kamala Harris, 320,000 children have been lost and at risk to human trafficking and slavery.
She has created a humanitarian disaster with her open border. https://t.co/9BiLzJRaiR— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) August 22, 2024
Rising Concerns Over Child Labor and Exploitation
The investigation has documented a concerning rise in illegal child labor cases among migrant youth. Many of the approximately 250,000 unaccompanied children who entered the U.S. in the past two years are reportedly working full-time jobs, often in violation of labor laws and at the expense of their education and well-being.
These revelations have prompted a joint House subcommittee hearing to address trafficking and exploitation concerns. The hearing, led by the House Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Oversight, Accountability, and Investigations, aimed to shed light on the plight of migrant children under the current administration’s policies.
Calls for Bipartisan Solutions and Accountability
In response to these alarming findings, there have been increasing calls for bipartisan solutions to strengthen child protection measures. Ranking Member Lou Correa emphasized the importance of addressing root causes of migration, such as violence and poverty in home countries, while also ensuring the safety of children who have already entered the United States.
As the investigation continues, pressure mounts on the Biden-Harris administration to provide greater transparency and take concrete action to protect unaccompanied migrant children. The Senate report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges at the southern border and the critical need for comprehensive and compassionate solutions to safeguard the most vulnerable victims of the immigration crisis.
Sources:
- Senate report claims Biden failures in protecting migrant children
- RANKING MEMBER CORREA DELIVERS OPENING STATEMENT IN JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING: “Trafficked, Exploited, and Missing: Migrant Children Victims of the Biden-Harris Administration”
- Senate report claims Biden failures in protecting migrant children
- Biden Admin Obstructing Investigations Into Trafficking, Exploitation Of Migrant Children, Report Finds
