Attorney General Jason Miyares has raised concerns about the treatment of missing migrant children by the federal government, urging for better collaboration between federal, state, and local authorities for the safety and welfare of these vulnerable minors. In a statement, Attorney General Miyares emphasized the importance of addressing the issue promptly, stating, “The missing migrant children are a serious emergency that is being ignored by the federal government. Vulnerable unaccompanied minors are being dropped off in our cities and counties, and local social services and law enforcement agencies have no idea. How can they protect and check in on children they don’t know are there? We must advance federal, state, and local collaboration in the face of this unprecedented, horrifying crisis. No child should experience the uncertainty and vulnerability that these children are facing.”
According to a recent report by the HHS Office of the Inspector General, as many as 85,000 migrant children are unaccounted for, with many being released into unsafe situations such as human trafficking. Attorney General Miyares highlighted the lack of coordination and information from the federal government, causing difficulties for law enforcement in Virginia in addressing the issue of missing migrant children.
In response to these concerns, Attorney General Miyares has sent a letter to the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, calling for improved policies that require the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify local governments, including law enforcement and social services, when unaccompanied children are placed in their communities. The letter urges the federal government to take action to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable children.
The full letter sent by Attorney General Miyares can be accessed through the Office of the Attorney General's website.