Biden administration loses track of thousands of migrant children

 DC Daily Journal:

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The issue of missing migrant children has gained significant attention following a report from the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in August. The report revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had lost track of at least 32,000 migrant children who entered the U.S. and were released from DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) custody since 2019. These children missed their court dates, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.

The OIG report also found that 291,000 migrant children never received court dates at all, placing them at even higher risk. Additionally, the report raised concerns about the safety of children placed with adult sponsors, many of whom had criminal histories. While HHS has managed to reunite about one-third of unaccompanied migrant children with their parents, the remaining children were sent to live with relatives or, in some cases, strangers. Internal investigations have shown that some of these placements were made with individuals deemed unsuitable to care for children.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, also released a report accusing the Biden administration of widespread failures that led to abuse and exploitation of migrant children. The report detailed what Cassidy described as systemic failures, allowing the trafficking and mistreatment of vulnerable children.
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According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the number of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border has sharply increased under Biden’s administration. In fiscal year 2021, CBP recorded more than 1.7 million encounters, the highest number in two decades. In fiscal year 2022, that number surpassed 2.3 million. These statistics highlight a dramatic uptick in illegal immigration compared to the previous years under former President Donald Trump, where numbers were also high but showed a declining trend as his administration focused on stricter border enforcement measures.

The Biden administration also ended the construction of the border wall, another move that critics argue has weakened deterrence. The administration emphasized a more humane approach to immigration, including prioritizing the processing of migrant families and individuals rather than mass deportations. This shift in approach has led to concerns about “pull factors” encouraging migration from countries in Central America, Mexico, and beyond.
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The Biden open borders policy facilitated the trafficking of migrant children on a grand scale.  Losing track of hundreds of thousands of children is a disgrace.  The Biden team should be embarrassed.