Grassley urges unresponsive feds to save trafficked migrant kids

Senator Grassley Calls for Investigation into Trafficking of Migrant Children

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa has sent an explosive letter ⁢to‍ Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray, urging them to launch an investigation into the trafficking⁣ of migrant children. Grassley’s office released a statement⁤ revealing that he has reviewed whistleblower disclosures and⁢ records from Health and Human Services, which indicate potential cases of human⁤ trafficking and poorly vetted sponsors.

In his letter, Grassley emphasizes the urgency‌ of locating and rescuing missing children who may have suffered sexual abuse or forced labor. He expects the cooperation of ⁤various agencies, including ​DHS, HSI, FBI, HHS, and NGOs, in ⁣this⁢ critical mission.

The senator’s letter provides specific instances of potential trafficking and vetting failures, which have been ⁣shared with law enforcement. However, the full contents of the letter are being withheld from the public to protect the ongoing investigation.

One such ‌case involves multiple children placed in sponsorships ‍with male subjects in the same apartment complex, as⁤ well as​ sponsorship requests pending. Another male subject ‌attempted to sponsor children in a different apartment complex. Nearby buildings also had numerous children placed in sponsorships ‌or pending sponsorship.

Grassley’s concerns were raised during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where he questioned DHS witness Cardell Morant about the number of missing migrant children recovered by HSI. Despite ⁤promises to provide the information, DHS‌ has failed to do so, prompting Grassley to criticize HHS ​for not taking sufficient action to ​prevent children from falling into dangerous situations.

In his ⁤letter, Grassley demands a thorough investigation into each child, household, or sponsor mentioned in the documents. He also calls for an immediate commitment to identifying and ⁢rescuing any children in need. Grassley expects a​ preliminary update⁢ on the ⁤investigation by February 6, ⁣2024.

As ⁤Grassley concludes his letter, he emphasizes the importance of taking the first step in recovering the thousands of missing children, stating, “the journey of recovering 85,000 or more missing children begins with a single child.”

Evita Duffy-Alfonso is a staff writer for The Federalist and co-founder of the Chicago Thinker. She is passionate ​about the Midwest, lumberjack sports, writing, and her family. Follow her on Twitter⁢ at @evitaduffy_1 or contact ⁢her at [email protected].

How can the government improve the‌ vetting process for sponsors of migrant children ​to ensure their ‍safety and prevent exploitation?

⁤Exploitation. He highlights the need to address the systemic failures within the immigration process that ​may have allowed such trafficking to occur.

Senator Grassley acknowledges that the issue of trafficking⁣ of migrant children is not a new phenomenon, but the recent surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border‌ has brought the⁣ matter⁣ into sharper focus. With limited resources and​ overwhelmed‌ facilities, there is​ an increased ⁢risk of ‌exploitation and⁣ trafficking. Grassley is concerned that these ‍vulnerable ⁤children may be‌ falling through the cracks, leaving them at the mercy ⁢of criminal networks.

The whistleblower disclosures and records from Health and Human Services indicate a lack of proper vetting of sponsors for these migrant children. The records suggest⁢ that some sponsors may have​ ulterior motives, using the children as a means ⁤to exploit them for forced labor, prostitution,‌ or⁢ other illicit activities. Grassley calls for an investigation to uncover the extent of these potential cases and⁢ to hold ⁢those responsible‌ accountable.

Grassley’s⁤ letter also raises concerns about the safety and welfare of the missing children. He emphasizes that time is of the essence, as these children are at high risk⁣ of being ⁣subjected to⁤ further harm and trauma. Recent reports ⁣of​ sexual abuse within migrant detention facilities only heighten the urgency to locate and protect these vulnerable children.

Furthermore, Grassley urges Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas and FBI​ Director Wray to examine the systemic failures that have allowed this trafficking to take place. He‍ emphasizes the need for improved coordination and communication between ‌agencies‍ involved in the processing and care of migrant children. ​Grassley believes that a comprehensive investigation will not only expose individual cases of trafficking but also highlight the systemic ‍issues that need ‌to ⁣be addressed.

Senator Grassley’s call for an investigation into ⁢the trafficking⁣ ⁤of migrant children is an important step towards ensuring their safety and protecting their rights. It is crucial that the government takes ​immediate action to locate and rescue these missing children, and to prevent further cases of exploitation and abuse. ⁢By holding accountable those responsible for these crimes, and ⁣by addressing the systemic failures that have allowed them to occur, we can‌ begin to provide a safer and more secure environment for migrant children.