U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has released a report criticizing the Biden-Harris administration for failing to protect migrant children from exploitation and obstructing investigations. The report is based on an investigation led by Cassidy, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.
The report accuses the administration of failing to secure the southern border, leading to abuse and trafficking of unaccompanied children. It also claims that there was a systematic cover-up of these issues and obstruction of both congressional and state investigations.
“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had the power to prevent the exploitation of children by securing the southern border,” said Dr. Cassidy. He further stated that their approach treated “the border crisis as a messaging issue for their presidential campaign.”
Cassidy argues that recent political changes offer a chance to address these issues: “President Trump’s victory, along with a Republican sweep of Congress, presents an opportunity to secure our border.”
The report highlights several key findings regarding administrative actions that allegedly weakened child protection measures. It criticizes top officials like HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra for prioritizing speed over safety in sponsor vetting processes. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is accused of relying heavily on third-party contractors without adequate oversight.
Additionally, the Department of Labor (DOL) is criticized for focusing solely on enforcement after child labor violations occur rather than preventing them.
Cassidy’s investigation faced resistance from ORR, which reportedly refused cooperation with oversight efforts. This includes not providing contracts or allowing private entities to share information with investigators.
The report concludes by accusing ORR and other agencies under HHS of ignoring subpoenas and refusing cooperation with state-level investigations into child trafficking.
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