The Biden administration's policies at the southern border have created a crisis that has put the safety and well-being of unaccompanied migrant children at grave risk.
In a bold move to address this pressing issue, Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has joined a bipartisan group of senators in introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to strike down a recent HHS rule that codifies harmful practices and enables the exploitation of these vulnerable children.
The surge of migrants at the southern border, fueled by the Biden administration's open border policies, has overwhelmed the government's Unaccompanied Children (UC) program. Migrant children who enter the U.S. illegally without an adult are detained and placed in this program, which is run by the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
The Biden administration's mismanagement of the UC program has had devastating consequences. Tens of thousands of vulnerable children have been lost, and many others have been handed over to abusers and criminals. This exploitation is one of the most heartbreaking tragedies of the Biden Border Crisis, and it demands immediate action.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Senator Scott has joined forces with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 44 of their Senate colleagues to introduce the CRA resolution. This resolution aims to strike down the HHS rule that was finalized in April, which codifies a range of harmful practices that put unaccompanied migrant children at risk.
The HHS rule in question legalizes lax or optional sponsor vetting, allows the placement of children with sponsors who have criminal records or a history of abuse or neglect, and restricts whistleblowers' rights to report wrongdoing and misconduct within the program. These policies have created an environment ripe for the exploitation of vulnerable children, and Congress must act to put a stop to it.
“From the moment he took office, President Biden unleashed a self-made border disaster. His open border policies have created chaos, put American lives at risk, and empowered the smugglers and cartels that endanger unaccompanied children,” said Senator Scott. “Congress needs to act to push back on the Biden administration’s incompetence at the border, end the exploitation of children, and protect innocent Americans.”
Senator Grassley echoed these sentiments, asserting that "The Biden administration ignored warnings from Congress and the Inspector General that its policies put children at risk and instead moved to finalize its current rule. Biden's Health and Human Services Department has lost tens of thousands of vulnerable kids and handed over many others to abusers and criminals. This exploitation is one of the most heartbreaking tragedies the Biden Border Crisis has created. Since the Biden administration has refused to lift a finger to fix this problem, it's now up to Congress to put a stop to it."
The CRA resolution introduced by Senator Scott and his colleagues is a critical step in addressing the crisis at the southern border and protecting unaccompanied migrant children from exploitation. By overturning the HHS rule, Congress can force meaningful reforms to the UC program, ensuring that vulnerable children are placed with responsible and trustworthy sponsors, and that whistleblowers are empowered to report any wrongdoing or misconduct.
Restoring Accountability and Transparency in the UC Program
The CRA resolution seeks to restore accountability and transparency in the UC program by addressing the specific harmful practices codified in the HHS rule. These include:
- Lax or optional sponsor vetting
- Refusal to consider a sponsor's criminal record, including illegal drug use, history of abuse or neglect, or other disqualifying child welfare concerns
- Refusal to share a sponsor's immigration status with law enforcement
- Weak standards for post-release home studies to determine a child's status or safety once in the custody of a sponsor
- Restrictions on whistleblowers' rights to disclose information on wrongdoing and misconduct in the program to Congress and the HHS Inspector General
By overturning this rule, Congress can ensure that the UC program operates with the necessary safeguards to protect unaccompanied migrant children and prevent their exploitation by abusers and criminals.
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