A recent report by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General has revealed alarming findings regarding the safety and well-being of unaccompanied migrant children (UCs). Over the past five years, more than 32,000 UCs did not appear for immigration court hearings, raising concerns about their whereabouts and vulnerability to human trafficking.
The report highlighted that ICE transferred over 448,000 UCs to HHS from fiscal years 2019 to 2023, but failed to track the location of those who missed court hearings. Additionally, approximately 291,000 UCs have not been marked for removal proceedings due to ICE's failure to schedule court dates and serve notices.
Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized the Biden administration for its 'reckless disregard' in handling the issue, citing a prior report that HHS had lost track of around 85,000 migrant children. She demanded answers from DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the steps being taken to address these failures and ensure the safety of the children.
In response, ICE emphasized its commitment to protecting children and clarified that NTAs are not issued to unaccompanied children until after they are placed with vetted sponsors. This delay allows children to settle in and seek legal counsel before court proceedings. ICE stated that it will continue to improve procedures and implement the IG's recommendations to enhance monitoring of unaccompanied minors.
The ongoing concerns raised by Senator Blackburn and the Inspector General's report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the well-being of migrant children and prevent them from falling prey to exploitation.
