Attorney General Jason Miyares, along with 21 other Attorneys General, has demanded answers from the Biden Administration regarding the trafficking of migrant children. In a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, Miyares expressed grave concern over the recent report by the HHS Office of Inspector General revealing that unaccompanied migrant children are being released into unsafe situations, including human trafficking.
Miyares emphasized the importance of the federal government taking responsibility for the well-being of these vulnerable children, stating, "The federal government must take responsibility and ownership for the innocent children that find themselves alone in our country because of our lax, open border policies." He condemned the government's inability to secure the southern border and care for unaccompanied migrant children, calling it unacceptable.
The letter from the Attorneys General highlighted the Biden Administration's admission that it cannot locate 85,000 migrant children for whom it is responsible. Citing a New York Times report, the letter revealed that many of these children have been subjected to labor exploitation and sex trafficking due to the government's failure to conduct proper vetting and safety checks before releasing them.
The Attorneys General demanded accountability from the Administration in addressing these reports by May 1, 2024. They underscored the importance of identifying missing children and vetting potential sponsors to combat human trafficking effectively.
Joining Attorney General Miyares in sending the letter were Attorneys General from states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and more. The collective effort aims to hold the Biden Administration accountable for the safety and well-being of unaccompanied migrant children in federal custody.