Approximately 85,000 children who entered the United States as unaccompanied minors are unaccounted for after being placed with sponsors, according to revelations made by government whistleblowers during a Senate panel hearing.
These children were placed with individuals who were not their relatives, leading to evidence of abuse and trafficking.
One whistleblower, Tara Lee Rodas, with a 20-year federal career, recounted her experiences at the Pomona Fairplex Emergency Intake Site where she served as Deputy to the Director of the Federal Case Management Team.
She cited a troubling case involving a 16-year-old Guatemalan girl named Carmen who was placed with a man claiming to be her brother.
However, it was later discovered that he had posted child pornography online, raising concerning questions about the vetting process for sponsors.
Rodas also shed light on the involvement of gangs such as MS-13 in child placement. Shockingly, despite warnings issued by Rodas and others, authorities chose to retaliate against her instead of launching investigations into her claims.
Another whistleblower, Deborah White, has alleged that sponsors are rarely subjected to in-person vetting and that fake documents are rampant within this system.
She stated that “children were not going to their parents [but] being trafficked with billions of taxpayer dollars by a contractor failing to vet sponsors and process children safely,” and pointed out complicity from government officials.
The oversight conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding sponsors involved minimal follow-up, typically limited to a single phone call 30 days post-placement.
This lax oversight meant that many children could no longer be contacted by this time.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra has maintained that no children have gone missing from HHS custody; however, whistleblowers clarified that this claim was technically accurate only until transportation companies delivered the children to their sponsors.
The distressing truth is that these children often went missing shortly after their placement with these sponsors.
In light of these troubling revelations about the treatment and welfare of unaccompanied minor immigrants in U.S. custody, it is imperative for thorough investigations into these claims and urgent reforms within the system.
The safety and well-being of these vulnerable children must be prioritized above all else.
It is crucial for swift action to be taken by relevant authorities in addressing these serious allegations brought forward by whistleblowers.
The gravity of these claims demands immediate attention from policymakers and law enforcement agencies at every level in order to ensure accountability and prevent further harm to innocent children seeking refuge in America.
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