Sen. Josh Hawley on Thursday criticized DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas following a damning report indicating that hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrant children are missing within the United States.
According to The Post Millenial, Hawley’s critiques followed a DHS Inspector General report highlighting significant failures in the handling of unaccompanied immigrant children, who are often subjected to abuse and exploitation.
In recent years, the number of unaccompanied children entering the U.S. has surged. From fiscal year 2019 to 2023, about 448,820 illegal immigrant children were brought to the U.S., compared to less than 50,000 in 2019 and 2020. Under the Biden-Harris administration, this significant increase has raised alarm among lawmakers and the public alike.
A critical aspect of the report is the lack of government vetting for individuals sponsoring these children. The unaccompanied minors are handed over without thorough background checks, resulting in numerous cases where children are unaccounted for and unfortunately abused.
Many of these children are victims of forced labor, sex trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. With some 291,000 children not receiving notices to appear in immigration court, the DHS has faced tremendous scrutiny over its procedures.
Further worsening the situation, around 32,000 children given court dates failed to appear and have not been tracked, adding to the count of those missing. The agency’s inability to locate these minors has resulted in over a quarter million children being potentially lost.
Sen. Hawley did not hold back his concerns. He emphasized the vulnerability of unaccompanied migrant children, stating, “They are routinely trafficked for sex, forced into illegal labor, burned with chemicals, and subjected to countless other atrocities by cartels.” His comments underscore the severity of the situation and the urgent need for action.
Hawley pointed out that the DHS report reveals catastrophic failures in the agency's ability to protect these children. “Your agency may have lost track of more than a quarter million unaccompanied children — a horrifyingly large number,” he highlighted in his criticism towards Secretary Mayorkas.
The DHS Inspector General’s report elaborates on the inadequacies in the processing and protection of these children. Remarkably, while some children were issued court notices, the data reveals that tens of thousands did not attend their hearings and subsequently vanished within the U.S.
The significant figures presented serve as a call to action. “According to the report, your agency 'was not able to account' for the location of unaccompanied children who did receive court notices and failed to appear in immigration court. That was at least 32,000 children,” Hawley stressed, illustrating the gravity of the oversight issues.
Notably, back in October 2023, Secretary Mayorkas stated that the DHS had prioritized rescuing children who had been human trafficked. Despite such assurances, the recent findings cast a shadow over the department's efficacy in safeguarding these minors.
According to the recent report, many of the missing children have reportedly been trafficked and sent to addresses of suspected criminals. This underscores the ongoing peril facing unaccompanied minors and the pressing need for more stringent protective measures.
This alarming situation has resonated with the public and political figures alike. Voters in recent polling expressed a preference for former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris for better handling of immigration-related issues.
Hawley’s call for immediate clarity on the policies and efforts undertaken to locate these missing children comes as a significant pressure point for the Biden-Harris administration. “Unaccompanied migrant children are some of the most vulnerable individuals in America,” Hawley reiterated, stressing the critical nature of this issue.
As the DHS faces increasing scrutiny and demands for accountability, the plight of these children remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing challenges within the U.S. immigration system. The expectation for rigorous actions and transparent reporting will likely shape the narrative around this crisis in the foreseeable future.
The systemic failures in tracking and protecting unaccompanied immigrant children have triggered significant concerns and demands for urgent action from the highest levels of government. The unfolding developments in this matter underscore the necessity for improved oversight and accountability within the DHS to prevent further human suffering and loss.
