HHS Secretary Gives Troubling Response On Unaccompanied Alien Children

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra found himself under intense scrutiny this week as House Republicans grilled him over the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) that went effectively missing during his tenure. Becerra, who has led the agency since March 2021, faced tough questions from lawmakers regarding his department’s failure to account for hundreds of thousands of UACs after their release into the United States. An Inspector General (IG) report released earlier this year revealed troubling lapses in oversight, including a failure to issue Notices to Appear (NTAs) for immigration court hearings, and the agency’s inability to follow up on the whereabouts of many vulnerable children.

During a tense hearing before the House Immigration Subcommittee, Becerra was asked whether he would change any decisions or policies related to his handling of UACs, given the growing concerns over their safety and the report’s findings.

“We work tirelessly to strengthen and improve the program for unaccompanied children that come before us,” Becerra said, claiming that the department prioritizes the “safety and wellbeing” of the children in its care. However, when pressed by Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) about the 320,000 unaccounted-for UACs, Becerra’s answer fell flat for many viewers.

“We do the best we can,” he added, evoking frustration from Republican lawmakers who say the situation reflects mismanagement and bureaucratic failure.

The Inspector General’s report highlighted a devastating oversight in the handling of UACs, revealing that the department has lost contact with tens of thousands of children. The report showed that between Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2023, approximately 365,000 UACs were released into the U.S. interior under HHS’s watch. For comparison, during the final years of the Trump administration, just over 83,000 UACs were released.

Perhaps most troubling is the fact that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) failed to issue NTAs for 291,000 of these UACs, limiting the agency’s ability to track them and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. According to the IG, these children are “at higher risk for trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor,” as ICE’s inability to follow up on their whereabouts diminishes the opportunity to ensure their safety.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) pressed Becerra during the hearing, asking, “Can you account for the whereabouts of those 400,000-something children… and that they are safe?” Becerra, while acknowledging the “vital importance” of follow-up, did not provide definitive answers.

Adding to the urgency of the situation, a report from the Department of Labor found that child labor trafficking had surged by 88% since 2019. Last year, nearly 6,000 minors, many of them UACs, were found working in hazardous, often illegal conditions, including in factories, agriculture, and meatpacking plants. The uptick in child labor cases has drawn alarm from lawmakers, with many pointing to the lack of oversight as a key factor enabling this dangerous exploitation.

A former HHS whistleblower also warned Congress last year that the agency was unintentionally facilitating a “multi-billion-dollar child trafficking operation” by releasing UACs to sponsors who may not have been properly vetted. The whistleblower claimed that some sponsors view children as commodities to be exploited for labor and financial gain, exacerbating the risks faced by these vulnerable minors.

Republican lawmakers have been vocal in their criticism of Becerra’s handling of the UAC crisis. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), who chaired the hearing, expressed disbelief that the department could claim to be working “tirelessly” when the lives of thousands of children remain unaccounted for. The release of UACs into the interior of the country without adequate safeguards, he argued, has exposed the children to a range of dangers, including labor trafficking, sexual exploitation, and physical abuse.