Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Chuck Grassley, Ron Johnson, and 41 other Republican lawmakers have criticized the Biden-Harris administration for not addressing abuses at the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). They claim these failures have led to the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children in ORR’s care.

“This is not a partisan issue. It can and should bring us together, as we try to protect Americans and [unaccompanied migrant children] placed in HHS ORR custody alike,” the lawmakers wrote. “Your Administration must make changes to its policies and procedures for [unaccompanied migrant children] to end this public safety crisis.”

Senator Cassidy has been investigating ORR's handling of unaccompanied migrant children for over a year. He alleges that Health and Human Services (HHS) and ORR prioritize speed over safety, resulting in the release of children to dangerous sponsors, including sexual predators and individuals with gang affiliations. Some children are reportedly forced into illegal labor.

Last week, Cassidy delivered a speech criticizing Senate Democrats for blocking legislation he co-led with Senator Grassley. The bill aimed to prohibit federal funds for any ORR grantee facing suspension or debarment for allowing sexual abuse or harassment of children in its care. This follows a Department of Justice lawsuit against Southwest Key Programs, alleging nearly a decade of sexual abuse by its employees against unaccompanied children.

Cassidy has called on the HELP Committee chair to hold hearings with Southwest Key and ORR officials regarding these allegations. He also penned an op-ed detailing how current border policies have worsened ORR’s failures.

Joining Cassidy, Grassley, and Johnson are Senators Mike Crapo, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Roger Wicker, Jim Risch, John Hoeven, Mike Lee, Tim Scott, Ted Cruz, Deb Fischer, Shelley Moore Capito, James Lankford, Steve Daines, Dan Sullivan, John Kennedy, Marsha Blackburn, Kevin Cramer, Mike Braun, Josh Hawley, Rick Scott, Roger Marshall, Tommy Tuberville, Markwayne Mullin Katie Britt and Pete Ricketts.

In their letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris they state: "As a result of your open-borders policies... more than 500000 unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have crossed the southwest border without a parent or guardian... These UACs often experience horrible sexual physical and emotional abuse on the journey... Sadly the suffering these children endure does not end at the border."

The lawmakers argue that HHS cut back on background checks despite knowing about trafficking risks through its UAC program. They criticize Vice President Harris’s policy priorities which they say hindered information sharing between HHS ORR and law enforcement.

Further criticism is directed at administrative actions such as stripping Customs and Border Protection officials of their ability to conduct familial DNA testing. The lawmakers also cite failures in post-release services proposed by the Trump administration which were canceled early in Biden's term.

The letter details instances where HHS obstructed inquiries from Congress about protections for UACs including those related to Southwest Key Programs which received over $3 billion during this administration while being accused of child rape by staff members.

The House Judiciary Committee estimates that HHS lost contact with nearly 150000 UACs after placement based on data from February 2023 showing it was unable to contact 85 thousand out of approximately 432938 released UACs.

In January DHS informed Senator Grassley's office that HHS had not complied sufficiently with subpoenas related to child trafficking investigations leading Homeland Security Investigations agents being unable locate most sponsors identified as targets or many UACs themselves.

At a recent Senate roundtable forum witnesses described retaliation by HHS against whistleblowers who reported placing young children with households connected gangs like MS-13 while prioritizing speed over safety verification processes such verifying identity documents obtaining criminal histories conducting required home studies etc

The senators assert: “This is not a partisan issue… Your Administration must make changes…to end this public safety crisis.” They call upon Biden-Harris administration provide access federal law enforcement inspector general congress necessary oversee analyze suspicious placements fully cooperate investigations requests stop cover-up protect unaccompanied children American people