New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, is turning heads with alarming news about the 500,000 missing migrant children in the U.S., a situation that raises significant concerns about potential exploitation.
During a press conference, Adams emphasized the troubling statistic, stating, “We have 500,000 children who had sponsors in this country that we can’t find.”
His worries extend to the fate of these children, pondering if they might be trapped in child labor or worse. “We don’t know if they’re doing child labor. We don’t know if they’re doing sex crimes,” he pointed out, highlighting the uncertainty and danger surrounding their situations.
This discussion arose following a meeting Adams had with Tom Homan, a border czar appointment from President-elect Donald Trump. Their conversation drew on findings from a report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General, which revealed that ICE cannot effectively monitor all unaccompanied migrant children after they’re placed with sponsors.
The report published in August stated, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could not monitor the location and status of all unaccompanied migrant children.” Between 2019 and 2023, DHS handed over roughly 448,000 children to the Office of Refugee Resettlement Services (ORR) of HHS.
ORR is responsible for caring for these minors while they await their immigration court hearings, placing them in shelters or with sponsors. Despite the transfer, ICE still plays a critical role in overseeing these children’s immigration proceedings.
Alarmingly, 32,000 unaccompanied children didn’t show up for their scheduled immigration court hearings, which are crucial for determining their status in the country. This figure may understate the reality, as many more, over 291,000 minors, have reportedly not received their required Notices to Appear in court.
The report raised red flags about the risks these children face, as it noted that kids absent from court are often at greater risk for trafficking or forced labor. Without effective communication between ICE and HHS and limited authority to intervene, ICE’s ability to ensure children’s safety is severely compromised.
Concerns about the vetting process for sponsors were also spotlighted during a recent U.S. House hearing, with a Florida grand jury’s findings suggesting that some sponsors had dubious backgrounds. Allegations surfaced that sponsors had ties to unlawful activities, including claims that some used strip clubs as official addresses.
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