Immigration
Did HHS Fail Protecting Migrant Kids with Unvetted Sponsors?

Did HHS Fail Protecting Migrant Kids with Unvetted Sponsors?
Here’s The Scoop
In a heated exchange on Capitol Hill, House Republicans took Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to task over the alarming mishandling of migrant children under his agency’s watch. The GOP lawmakers demanded answers for the troubling reports of thousands of unaccounted migrant children and a vetting process so flawed that minors have allegedly been placed with gang members and even ended up at a strip club.
Secretary Becerra attempted to defend his department, claiming adherence to “child welfare best practices” and “extensive” background checks. However, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wasn’t buying it. He pointedly questioned the secretary about children potentially being placed with MS-13 gang members, highlighting the dire consequences of inadequate vetting. “If you don’t do the vetting right, you don’t know if they’re engaged in criminal activity,” Biggs asserted, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Despite Becerra’s denials, a Senate investigation has revealed that two unaccompanied migrant children were indeed placed with a sponsor linked to a convicted MS-13 gang member. This revelation has only intensified the scrutiny on HHS’s procedures.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) further grilled Becerra on the agency’s failure to conduct comprehensive criminal history checks on potential sponsors. When pressed, Becerra repeated his claim of following best practices, but Roy wasn’t satisfied, pointing out that the agency does not perform FBI criminal history checks on all sponsors. Roy also estimated the number of missing unaccompanied migrant children could exceed 400,000—a staggering figure that raises serious concerns about the safety and welfare of these vulnerable minors.
Adding to the controversy, Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) questioned Becerra about reports of children being placed at a strip club in Florida and exploited by an unrelated “aunt.” Becerra denied knowledge of these incidents, but the allegations paint a disturbing picture of negligence and lack of oversight.
This situation represents a profound failure in protecting the most vulnerable, and the American people deserve accountability. The mishandling of these children under the current administration’s policies is unacceptable, and it is imperative that decisive action is taken to rectify these failures and ensure the safety of every child in the system.
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Old Patriot
December 6, 2024 at 7:20 am
A huge number of children have, effectively, been trafficked by this administration
Dale Wark
December 6, 2024 at 7:17 pm
Clarify which administration. As far as I can tell, these children are illegal and do not have any rights.
Tig
December 16, 2024 at 7:55 am
Becerra, Myorkas, and Biden should all be put in Gitmo. Then put Pelosi, Schumer, Hillary and the entire J6 Committee in the cells right across from them. Communists and child traffickers all…