DHS Reveals Widespread Abuse of Migrant Children Placed with Unvetted Sponsors Under Biden

A nationwide child welfare initiative launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in February 2025 uncovered widespread mistreatment and exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children who were placed with unvetted sponsors during the Biden administration. Investigations revealed that many sponsors had criminal backgrounds including charges of assault, drug trafficking, prostitution, and even attempted murder, and some were found in possession of child sexual abuse material. In extreme cases, minor girls were impregnated by their alleged sponsors, who sometimes forced children into labor or subjected them to neglectful conditions. The Biden administration dismantled prior rigorous screening and biometric checks established under the Trump administration, prioritizing speed over the safety of these children. ICE spokesperson Laszlo Baksay emphasized the ongoing efforts by federal agents to locate these vulnerable minors, protect them, and hold accountable those who exploited the system. Former U.S. Border Patrol chief Chris Clem and other officials have confirmed that these failures were systemic and led to children being trafficked and abused under the guise of sponsor care.