{"id":2329840,"date":"2024-08-23T07:51:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T11:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-demands-hearing-on-child-abuse-at-migrant-shelters-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-23T07:56:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T11:56:36","slug":"cassidy-demands-hearing-on-child-abuse-at-migrant-shelters-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-demands-hearing-on-child-abuse-at-migrant-shelters-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassidy demands hearing on child abuse at migrant shelters &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcassidy-demands-hearing-on-child-abuse-at-migrant-shelters-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2329840&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Bill Cassidy,\u200b a senior Republican, is urging Senator Bernie Sanders to investigate allegations of sexual abuse \u200dagainst <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-than-3k-unaccompanied-alien-children-being-held-in-dhs-custody\/\" title=\"More than 3K unaccompanied alien children being held in DHS custody\">unaccompanied <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/video-the-kids-in-cages-are-now-migrant-children\/\" title=\"VIDEO: The \u2018Kids in Cages\u2019 Are Now \u2018Migrant Children\u2019\">migrant children<\/a><\/a> in federal custody.\u2064 Cassidy&#8217;s call for an oversight hearing comes in the wake of a \u200dJustice Department lawsuit against Southwest Key Programs, a\u200d major \u200dchildcare contractor, which \u200bclaims to have engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse and harassment at its shelters since 2015. Cassidy, who leads the \u200bSenate \u200cCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, expressed that it is imperative to ensure the Department of \u200bHealth and Human Services is safeguarding these vulnerable\u200d children. The allegations have serious implications, \u200das\u2063 Southwest \u2062Key, which operates numerous shelters and has received \u2063over \u2062$5.5 billion in taxpayer funding, is accused of grave misconduct including \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosi-calls-allegations-against-andrew-cuomo-credible\/\" title=\"Pelosi Calls Allegations Against Andrew Cuomo \u2018Credible\u2019\">inappropriate touching<\/a> and solicitation of sexual acts\u2063 by its employees.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Cassidy demands hearing on &lsquo;despicable&rsquo; child abuse at migrant shelters<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1728843\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;&nbsp;<\/strong>A senior Senate Republican is pushing Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) to investigate the sexual abuse of unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody following a Justice Department lawsuit against a childcare contractor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Bill Cassidy<\/a> (R-LA) sent Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, a letter Thursday afternoon in which he asked to convene a hearing to examine how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hhs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Department of Health and Human Services<\/a> Office of Refugee Resettlement&nbsp;had allowed &ldquo;despicable acts of abuse&rdquo; toward children under its care.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This issue is ripe for oversight,&rdquo; Cassidy, the top Republican on the committee, wrote in the letter, first obtained by the <em>Washington Examiner.<\/em> &ldquo;The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has primary jurisdiction over ORR and is therefore responsible for ensuring that the administration is doing everything possible to keep <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-revives-catch-and-release-to-avoid-housing-illegal-immigrants-amid-border-surge\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Revives \u2018Catch-And-Release\u2019 To Avoid Housing Illegal Immigrants Amid Border Surge\">unaccompanied children<\/a> in ORR custody safe from abuse and harassment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In mid-July, the DOJ <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-sues-southwest-key-sexual-abuse-and-harassment-children-shelters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>filed<\/a> a lawsuit against government contractor Southwest Key Programs that alleged a pattern of sexual abuse and harassment against boys and girls in its shelters since 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest Key has a large portfolio of children&rsquo;s shelters nationwide and is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-rules-against-biden-doj-in-high-stakes-jan-6-case-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Supreme Court rules against Biden DOJ in high-stakes Jan. 6 case - Washington Examiner\">government&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s largest childcare provider for migrant children. <\/p>\n<p>It has received $5.5 billion in taxpayer dollars to oversee 29 federal shelters where children are brought after being apprehended at the southern border.<\/p>\n<p>The accusations mentioned in the DOJ lawsuit are &ldquo;despicable,&rdquo; Cassidy said. The DOJ accused Southwest Key employees of inappropriate touching, solicitation of sex acts, solicitation of nude photos, entreaties for inappropriate relationships, and sexual comments from the children in custody.<\/p>\n<p>Staff also allegedly failed to prevent and detect the abuse and, at times, discouraged children from reporting it to leaders.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If this harassment went undetected at its largest grantee for so many years, there are serious questions about the treatment of unaccompanied children at other ORR facilities and what steps ORR is taking to detect and prevent abuse,&rdquo; Cassidy said. &ldquo;Furthermore, as I have learned throughout my investigation into ORR, the agency has repeatedly silenced whistleblowers and punished those who have come forward to report abuse.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy has asked Sanders to hold a hearing with representatives from HHS and Southwest Key.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"scribd_iframe_embed\" title=\"Letter From Ranking Member Cassidy to Chair Sanders Re ORR Hearing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scribd.com\/embeds\/761617682\/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-uqCnHweCkTl8ETbl2mxh\" tabindex=\"0\" data-auto-height=\"true\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.7729220222793488\" scrolling=\"no\" width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1728843\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1728843\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cassidy Calls for Hearing on &#8216;Appalling&#8217; Child Abuse in Migrant Shelters EXCLUSIVE \u2014 A prominent Senate Republican is urging Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to look into the sexual abuse of unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody after a lawsuit was filed by the Justice Department against a childcare contractor. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) wrote to Sanders, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, requesting a hearing to investigate how the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement allowed &#8220;appalling acts of abuse&#8221; against children in its care. In his letter, which was first reported by the Washington Examiner, Cassidy emphasized that this matter requires oversight. He noted that the Senate HELP Committee has primary authority over ORR and is responsible for ensuring that unaccompanied children in ORR custody are protected from abuse and harassment.<\/p>\n<p>In mid-July, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Southwest Key Programs\u2014a government contractor\u2014alleging ongoing sexual abuse and harassment of boys and girls at its shelters since 2015. Southwest Key operates numerous children&#8217;s shelters across the country and is the largest provider of childcare for migrant children under government contract, having received $5.5 billion in taxpayer funding to manage 29 federal shelters where apprehended children are placed after crossing the southern border.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy described the allegations detailed in the DOJ lawsuit as &#8220;appalling.&#8221; The lawsuit claims that employees at Southwest Key engaged in inappropriate touching, solicited sexual acts and nude photos from minors, sought inappropriate relationships with them, and made sexual comments towards them while failing to prevent or report such abuses\u2014and even discouraging victims from speaking out.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If such harassment went unnoticed at one of its largest grantees for so long,&#8221; Cassidy remarked, &#8220;it raises serious concerns about how unaccompanied children are treated at other ORR facilities as well as what measures ORR is implementing to detect and prevent abuse.&#8221; He also pointed out that his investigation into ORR revealed instances where whistleblowers were silenced or punished for reporting misconduct. Cassidy has requested Sanders convene a hearing with representatives from HHS and Southwest Key<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2655,"featured_media":2329841,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bernie-sanders-senate-help.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6677,39057,3679,39058,32076],"class_list":["post-2329840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cassidy","tag-child-abuse","tag-hearing","tag-migrant-shelters","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/bernie-sanders-senate-help.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2655"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2329840"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329840\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2329841"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2329840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2329840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2329840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}