In a blistering address on the floor of the United States Senate, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) strongly criticized the Biden administration for “failing to ensure the safety of unaccompanied migrant children placed with sponsors and for covering up credible reports of migrant child labor trafficking and abuse,” alleging the Biden administration failed to safeguard the well-being of unaccompanied migrant children placed with sponsors, as well as for allegedly attempting to cover up credible reports of migrant child labor trafficking and abuse.
Senator Cornyn’s concerns were sparked by reports indicating that the Biden administration may have indirectly encouraged parents from foreign countries to smuggle their children into the United States. Subsequently, federal officials reportedly lost track of a significant number of these children, subjecting them to forced physical labor and other forms of exploitation.
According to Cornyn, among the more than 300,000 migrant children who arrived in the United States under President Biden’s watch, approximately 85,000 could not be accounted for within 30 days of being placed with sponsors. He pointed out that Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was aware of credible reports regarding trafficking and abuse, yet continued to prioritize rapid placement of migrants with sponsors, disregarding the potential dangers involved.
“Of the more than 300,000 migrant children who arrived in the United States on President Biden’s watch, roughly 85,000 could not be accounted for 30 days after they were placed with a sponsor.”
“Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra knew about credible reports of trafficking and abuse but continued to push for speedy placement of migrants with sponsors with little regard for the dangers that that created.”
Cornyn also highlighted that then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was well-informed about the situation. Additionally, he drew attention to Susan Rice’s previous role as the Director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, which gave her oversight of various domestic policy matters, including the placement of migrant children, saying:
“Then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh was well aware of this.”
“Until recently, Susan Rice served as the Director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, where her job required her to oversee virtually every aspect of domestic policy matters, including the placement of migrant children.”
“Both Health and Human Services and the Labor Department shared concerns about labor trafficking and child labor violations, but those reports were either ignored by the White House or intentionally swept under the rug.”
According to Cornyn, the administration did not simply turn a blind eye; it actively attempted to cover up the extensive exploitation of migrant children. He expressed his intent to hold officials responsible for the care and custody of these vulnerable children accountable for their actions, adding:
“The administration didn’t just turn a blind eye, it intentionally tried to cover up the widespread exploitation of migrant children.”
“I look forward to the opportunity to ask those officials charged with the care and custody of these vulnerable children why they shirked their responsibilities.”
Cornyn strongly voiced his disagreement with the administration’s approach, asserting that abandoning migrant children to avoid negative publicity is unacceptable. He likened the treatment of these migrant children to reckless endangerment or human trafficking, emphasizing the need for answers, accountability, and policy changes to put an end to these practices, adding:
“The Biden administration may be fine with abandoning migrant children in order to avoid a bad news cycle, but I am not.”
“If you were an American citizen and you treated that American citizen child like the Biden administration has treated these migrant children from other countries, you would be charged and convicted of reckless endangerment of a child or human trafficking.”
“We need answers. We need accountability. We need policy changes to ensure that these practices come to an end.”
