Washington, June 26: The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, has announced that efforts are intensifying to locate 450,000 migrant children who lost contact after being sent to sponsors during the previous administration. So far, 147,000 of these children have been located.
While testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security matters, Mayorkas emphasized that finding vulnerable and at-risk migrant children is a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
He stated, “This is one of the most horrific and disturbing issues we have faced. It is one of my most critical concerns.”
Mayorkas clarified that not all of the identified children were in danger. He noted, “Not every child required a rescue operation. Some were found safe with family members, and their situations were normal. However, we did uncover some extremely serious and concerning cases during our investigations.”
He revealed that investigations have exposed human trafficking rings, where migrant children faced severe physical and mental abuse.
“One case reported in the media involved a group of adults keeping children locked in underground bunker-like cells,” Mayorkas said.
He also mentioned underage girls who reportedly suffered repeated sexual exploitation after falling into the hands of traffickers. “The horror of these incidents is so profound that it surpasses any nightmare one could imagine,” he added.
Mayorkas stressed that such tragedies could have been prevented. To this end, the DHS is forming a special task force dedicated to locating missing migrant children.
“Our mission is to find all 450,000 children. The most painful aspect is that this entire situation could have been avoided. There is no doubt that it could have been entirely prevented,” he stated.
Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani noted that this issue has been one of his primary concerns during the previous administration.
Mayorkas also indicated that officials are investigating the trafficking of boys and the exploitation of elderly individuals by criminal organizations.
The issue resurfaced during a heated exchange with Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, who criticized the family separation policy during the Trump administration. Mayorkas responded that lawmakers should also focus on the migrant children who went missing, leading to repeated interruptions from the committee chairman as the discussion grew increasingly contentious.
Human trafficking remains a significant issue for U.S. federal law enforcement agencies, particularly along migration routes connecting Central America, Mexico, and the United States. Federal authorities collaborate with state and local agencies to dismantle trafficking networks involved in child sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Fighting human trafficking has been a priority for successive U.S. governments, although their views on immigration and border policy have varied significantly. The welfare of migrant children, detention practices, and border enforcement remain some of the most politically contentious issues in the U.S. immigration debate.
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