Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins addressed a hearing concerning the Biden Administration’s handling of unaccompanied migrant children. The hearing, titled “Catch and Release, Lose and Forget: Addressing the Crisis of Unaccompanied Alien Children – Part I,” examined a report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General. This report highlighted failures by DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services in safeguarding these vulnerable children.
Chairman Higgins attributed these issues to what he described as the “Biden Border Crisis,” stating that it has facilitated trafficking and exploitation. He also noted that President Trump had taken measures to address border security, actions he urged Congress to support.
In his prepared remarks, Higgins pointed out that over 448,000 unaccompanied alien children entered the U.S. illegally in recent years, with many becoming victims of trafficking or exploitation. He emphasized previous administration failures in processing and tracking these minors.
Higgins commended ICE for its efforts despite being overwhelmed by high case volumes due to past policies. He revealed that nearly 300,000 children have not appeared for their court dates, with a significant number under 12 years old whose whereabouts are unknown.
Higgins expressed approval for ICE’s acceptance of all recommendations from the Inspector General’s report under President Trump’s administration. He anticipated further testimony from Inspector General Cuffari to address ongoing concerns regarding child safety and care.
