Lawmakers, whistleblowers demand change for exploited unaccompanied migrant children

WASHINGTON (TND) — On Tuesday, Republican Senators held a roundtable to discuss the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children and allegations the U.S. is failing to protect those children from trafficking and abuse.

Two whistleblowers spoke during the roundtable, highlighting alleged failures of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Unaccompanied Children Program. Both said the department is responsible for losing at least 85,000 migrant children, sex trafficking and forced labor.

I have interviewed these children and I have stories that will haunt me for the rest of my life," said Deborah White, one of the federal whistleblowers.

"This is the most horrific injustice against children that I have witnessed in my entire federal career," added fellow whistleblower Tara Rodas.

Republican Senators Chuck Grassley, Bill Cassidy and Ron Johnson hosted the roundtable and said the Biden Administration is "shoveling children out into homes of poorly vetted volunteers, setting them up for failure."

However, the Biden Administration has said the Unaccompanied Child Program reunites children with family members. In place since 2003, the program also just strengthened its rules two months ago.

Unfortunately children are still suffering and HHS has failed to get its act together," Senator Grassley said.

Rodas, who has had a lengthy career in the federal government, told the panel she worked in areas that processed more than 8,000 minors.

"To place vulnerable migrant children into the hands of sponsors with criminal history, gang affiliation, to whom many aren't even their parents," said Rodas.

White, who was detailed to HHS in the summer of 2021 told us directly that she blames the HHS and the Biden Administration's policies for what's been allowed to happen.

This is nothing less than taxpayer-funded child slavery, sanctioned by the government," said White.