Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA), is raising concerns regarding the condition of some unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S. southern border. During a Tuesday hearing, Higgins stated that some children appear to be drugged, which hinders law enforcement’s ability to question them about their travel companions.
The subcommittee’s hearing focused on the issue of thousands of migrant children reportedly going missing under the Biden-Harris government. Key witnesses included Tara Rodas, a whistleblower from Health and Human Services, Kathy Larin of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), retired Deputy Patrol Agent JJ Carrell, and human trafficking consultant Alicia Hopper.
Higgins highlighted the troubling situation in his opening remarks, questioning why many children arrive at the border in a state of fear and without accompanying family members. He noted instances where children are accompanied by individuals claiming to be relatives, yet lacking any apparent familial ties. He pointed out that some children have phone numbers and addresses written on their arms, suggesting they are being directed to specific, unknown locations, which he likened to “arriving at someone’s warehouse or doorstep.”
In August, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General released a report revealing the agency may have lost upwards of 291,000 unaccompanied minors. According to DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, his office has identified at least 32,000 instances of unaccompanied children who failed to appear for their immigration court dates—though he believes the true number may be much higher.
Additionally, the Inspector General’s report notes, “Based on our audit work and according to ICE officials, UCs who do not appear for court are considered at higher risk for trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.” UC refers to unaccompanied child migrants.
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