Watchdog Report Exposes Failures in Protecting Migrant Children

A federal watchdog has found serious lapses in the U.S. government's vetting of sponsors for unaccompanied migrant children, leading to exploitation and neglect.

A federal watchdog report reveals significant lapses in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' vetting of sponsors for unaccompanied migrant children, leading to cases of neglect and exploitation.
Over the past three years, approximately 300,000 unaccompanied migrant children, mostly from Guatemala and Honduras, have entered the U.S., facing vulnerabilities to human trafficking and child labor.
Investigations found that safety checks were not documented in 16% of cases, and in 19% of cases, there was incomplete information regarding the outcome of FBI fingerprint and child abuse and neglect safety checks.
Criminal networks, including gangs like 'Tren de Aragua' and MS-13, exploit the situation by recruiting illegal migrants, including minors, to expand their criminal enterprises across the U.S.
Despite improvements since 2021, including expanded post-release services and sponsor vetting, significant gaps remain, leaving children vulnerable to exploitation.