Unaccompanied and Unsafe: Biden Policies Facilitate Exploitation and Abuse of Child Migrants

Jessica M. Vaughan; Tara Lee Rodas

By Jessica M. Vaughan and Tara Lee Rodas on October 12, 2023

Listen to "Unaccompanied and Unsafe: Biden Policies Facilitate Exploitation and Abuse of Child Migrants" on Spreaker.

Summary

This week’s Parsing Immigration Policy episode raises awareness of a disturbing aspect of the border crisis – a large and increasing number of unaccompanied alien children who are delivered by the government into the hands of labor and sex traffickers. Guest Tara Lee Rodas, a Health and Human Services (HHS) whistleblower who recently testified before Congress, speaks about current U.S. immigration policies and court rulings that lead to the rapid release of unaccompanied minors (UACs) to unvetted sponsors in the U.S.

Guest host Jessica Vaughan, the Center’s director of policy studies, and Rodas discuss the flaws in the immigration system and the Biden policies, revealing shocking details about the lax vetting of sponsors who are given custody of unaccompanied alien children without proper background checks or monitoring.

Rodas describes the process as “government-sponsored, taxpayer-funded child trafficking,” as the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and its contractors literally complete the final stage of human smuggling schemes, which frequently end up with the transfer of minors to criminal enterprises, forced labor arrangements, cartels, or gangs.

“It is easier to get a UAC than to get a pet,” says Rodas.

Vaughan, who also testified before Congress on the trafficking of UACs, said, “We urge lawmakers to act with urgency to disrupt and de-fund this system, and demand reforms from the agencies involved. What higher priority can there be than the safety and well-being of vulnerable children? It is shameful for our government to allow this to continue under the pretense of helping migrants.”

The conversation concludes with specific federal and state policy suggestions that can be implemented to help end the trafficking of UACs.

In her closing commentary, Vaughan highlights an alarming proposed regulation announced by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) that would further institutionalize Biden policies granting more freedom to ORR and contractors while reducing accountability. The public comment period for these troubling changes will close in 60 days.

Vaughan also announced that the Center will be co-sponsoring a conference to combat human trafficking to be held in Houston on December 12th and 13th.