Wagner Calls on HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to Address Reports of Child Exploitation, Trafficking
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO), Vice Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chair of the House Suburban Caucus, released the following statement after the New York Times reported the Department of Health and Human Services failed to protect countless unaccompanied minors from exploitation.
Read an excerpt and the full letter below.
“As the Times report states, over 250,000 unaccompanied minors have entered our nation over the past two years. It is the statutory responsibility of HHS to protect these children from trafficking and exploitation, yet your Department has allegedly been unable to account for over 85,000 children currently in the United States, many of whom are reportedly being forced to work in dangerous conditions in order to pay off debts to human smugglers and/or to their sponsors.
“Instead of working to properly address these significant concerns for the safety of children, the Times report appears to indicate that, under your personal direction, HHS is primarily focused on increasing the number of children discharged to sponsors—regardless of the sponsor’s suitability to host a migrant child. In July 2021, your employees at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) reportedly authored a memo expressing concern about an increase in labor trafficking among unaccompanied minors and that ORR is prioritizing “quick releases” over “preventing unsafe releases.” In March 2022, you allegedly threatened the then-director of ORR, Cindy Huang, to increase the number of discharges of minors to sponsors or be fired. Once Ms. Huang resigned, you reportedly made “a similar threat to her successor.” These are serious allegations that must be investigated by Congress.”
Rep. Wagner called on Secretary Becerra to respond by March 8th. Click here for the full letter.
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