Tyler Reporter

Washington - This week Congressman Lance Gooden demanded Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra answer for his complete failure to protect unaccompanied alien children (UAC). Rep. Gooden's letter highlights the severe oversight by the current administration to vet sponsors and ensure these children are placed in a safe environment during an unprecedented crisis at the border.

"The Biden administration’s irresponsible policies are making it easier for traffickers to exploit vulnerable children," said Congressman Gooden. "It is imperative HHS immediately address these failures and implement stringent measures to protect these children from further harm."

ORR's negligence in properly screening and placing migrant children, coupled with its tactic of deflecting responsibility, exposes these vulnerable youths to potential harm and exploitation. The evidence of abuse and trafficking, exacerbated by Biden Administration policies prioritizing rapid release over safety, demands urgent reform. HHS must prioritize the swift and secure return of UACs to their home countries, rather than endangering them with placements in unvetted environments.

Cosigners of the letter include Clay Higgins (R-LA), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Brian Babin, D.D.S. (R-TX), Chip Roy (R-TX), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX).

In response to recent findings confirming the Biden Administration's failure to perform mandatory background checks for UACs, Rep. Gooden sounded the alarm on this critical issue. He criticized the administration and mainstream media for ignoring the historic crisis and shifting blame.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) indicated they had lost contact with over 85,000 children in sponsor care, highlighting a systemic failure to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable children. Since President Joe Biden's inauguration, the United States Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) has encountered an astonishing 473,145 UACs at the southwest border.

"Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime, but the Biden administration’s irresponsible policies are making it easier for traffickers to exploit vulnerable children," said Congressman Gooden. "It is imperative HHS immediately address these failures and implement stringent measures to protect these children from further harm."

In conclusion, the call for accountability and urgent action by Congressman Lance Gooden and his fellow cosigners underscores the need for immediate reforms to safeguard the well-being of unaccompanied alien children under the care of the Biden Administration.