Disturbing Findings Emerge as DHS Admits Unaccompanied Migrant Children Were Placed in Dangerous Situations

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has acknowledged that, under the Biden administration, unaccompanied migrant children were placed with sponsors who later impregnated them, or who had serious criminal backgrounds—including convictions related to child exploitation, violent offenses, and forced labor.

These revelations came as part of an ongoing federal investigation into the well-being of minors who entered the U.S. without parents or guardians during a historic surge at the southern border. The situation has reignited concerns about the safety of thousands of vulnerable children and the effectiveness of the government’s sponsor vetting process.

Troubling Patterns Uncovered
In a statement released Thursday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been conducting extensive welfare checks on migrant children placed with adult sponsors across the country. The review has uncovered numerous cases involving neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

“Children’s safety and security is non-negotiable,” said ICE spokesperson Laszlo Baksay. “The failure to put in place meaningful protections has left vulnerable children exposed to predators.”

Investigators discovered instances in which children were placed in homes with adults who had criminal records including drug trafficking, prostitution, assault, and even attempted murder. Among the most disturbing were cases involving minors who had become pregnant while under the care of their assigned sponsors. ICE identified the alleged perpetrators as the very individuals entrusted with the children’s welfare.

A Surge with Consequences

The crisis stems from a sharp increase in unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S. border, particularly during the early years of the Biden administration. As detention facilities became overwhelmed, federal authorities expedited the release of children from unsafe holding centers. That decision, however, may have led to more harm than protection.

During the height of the surge, the number of children being placed with sponsors surpassed 18,000 per month. In response to logistical challenges, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eased some of the vetting protocols that had been in place during the previous administration. Analysts now believe those relaxed standards allowed individuals with questionable or dangerous histories to take custody of migrant children.

Alarming Oversight Failures
Federal watchdogs have issued repeated warnings about gaps in oversight and communication breakdowns between agencies. Reports indicate that the U.S. government lost contact with tens of thousands of children after they were placed with sponsors. In one investigation, only about 5,000 children were located out of 100,000 attempted welfare checks—a mere 5% success rate.

Jarrod Sadulski, a recognized expert on child trafficking who has testified before Congress, said that over 65,000 calls to HHS’s abuse hotline for unaccompanied minors went unanswered. He also revealed that more than two dozen of the reviewed cases bore signs of human trafficking.

“This is a national emergency hiding in plain sight,” Sadulski said. “We have created a system where children slip through the cracks and are left to fend for themselves or, worse, fall into the hands of criminals.”

The Human Toll
Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan recounted a recent case that underscores the severity of the crisis. Speaking at a legal policy conference, Homan described how agents rescued a 14-year-old girl who had been trafficked and was found living with two adult men. The girl, who had become pregnant, had been forced into prostitution.

“She was just 14. Forced into a nightmare no child should ever experience,” Homan said. “We’re taking care of her now—both physically and emotionally. This isn’t about politics. It’s about doing the right thing.”

He emphasized that despite public criticism of immigration enforcement, agents are committed to protecting children.

“People think we’re heartless. But I’m a father. We care deeply about these kids,” Homan said. “This kind of abuse is happening every single day. And we’re going to do everything we can to stop it.”

A System Under Scrutiny
As public awareness of these failures grows, there are renewed calls for systemic reform and increased accountability. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are demanding stronger background checks for sponsors, improved interagency communication, and a robust tracking system to ensure children remain safe after placement.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security and HHS face mounting pressure to answer how such oversights were allowed to occur—and what will be done to prevent future tragedies.

What began as an effort to offer refuge to vulnerable children has exposed glaring flaws in the immigration system, turning what should have been sanctuary into suffering for many. The question now facing the country is not only how to fix the system, but how to restore trust in its ability to protect those who need it most.