Trump administration locates nearly 80,000 missing migrant children, exposing failures of Biden-era policies
By bellecarter // 2025-01-27
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  • The Trump administration has successfully located nearly 80,000 out of over 320,000 unaccounted-for migrant children reported missing under the Biden administration.
  • A damning report from the DHS Office of Inspector General revealed systemic failures in tracking unaccompanied minors, highlighting the risks of human trafficking and child exploitation.
  • The Biden administration has faced intense scrutiny and criticism for its lack of oversight and accountability in managing unaccompanied minors, with some placements linked to criminal organizations.
  • The new administration has vowed to address the crisis with urgency, conducting a sweeping investigation into border-related crimes and child trafficking, and emphasizing full cooperation with ICE to dismantle trafficking networks.
  • Ongoing investigations and public outrage have elevated the urgency to locate the remaining 240,000 missing children and prosecute those involved in their exploitation.
The administration of President Donald Trump has successfully located nearly 80,000 unaccounted-for migrant children out of a pool of over 320,000 reported missing under former President Joe Biden's regime. This breakthrough follows a damning August 2024 report from the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Inspector General, which exposed systemic failures in tracking unaccompanied minors after their release from federal custody. The findings have reignited debates over immigration policies, child welfare and the risks of human trafficking while underscoring the urgency of safeguarding vulnerable children at the border. The DHS report revealed that 291,000 children were released without being issued Notices to Appear or placed in removal proceedings, while 32,000 failed to appear for court dates and remain missing. These children, often fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries, are at heightened risk of exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. The Trump administration's efforts to locate tens of thousands of these children have brought renewed attention to the Biden administration's handling of the crisis, which has been widely criticized for its lack of oversight and accountability. (Related: Trump's new border czar will prioritize finding 300,000 missing migrant children who could be trafficking victims.) The Biden administration's approach to managing unaccompanied minors at the border has come under intense scrutiny. Investigative outlet Muckraker reported that federal programs under Biden's tenure facilitated child placements with sponsors whose backgrounds were not thoroughly vetted. In some cases, sponsors were linked to criminal organizations, including MS-13 and human trafficking networks. Muckraker CEO Anthony Rubin revealed alarming details about the program's shortcomings. "We discovered that while in federal custody, some children requested to return to their home countries but were instead sent to sponsors they didn't know, often in the dead of night," Rubin said. "This program has placed children in the hands of labor and sex trafficking networks." Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner echoed these concerns during a recent broadcast, questioning the Biden administration's handling of the crisis. "What was Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas, doing when he said to the committees on Capitol Hill, 'We don't know where those kids are'?" Faulkner asked. The Trump administration has vowed to address the crisis with urgency and accountability. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller announced a sweeping investigation into border-related crimes, including child trafficking, labor trafficking and smuggling. "This administration will investigate every instance of child trafficking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, smuggling, and all related crimes," Miller declared. He emphasized the need for full cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to dismantle trafficking operations and hold those responsible accountable. The administration's efforts to locate missing children began even before the 2024 election, with a focus on ensuring the safety of every child. Shadow of Ezra, a social media outlet, reported that the Trump administration's recovery of between 75,000 and 80,000 children within the first days of Trump's return to office marked a significant step forward.

Public outrage and ongoing investigations

The Biden administration's alleged negligence has drawn sharp rebukes from lawmakers and advocacy groups, further elevating the urgency of the Trump administration's initiatives. Public outrage has grown over the failure to safeguard vulnerable children, with many calling for transparency and accountability. Efforts are now underway to locate the remaining 240,000 missing children and to prosecute those involved in their exploitation. Miller assured the public that the administration would leave no stone unturned in its mission to protect vulnerable minors and dismantle trafficking networks. "This is about ending the scourge of child trafficking and abuse that has plagued the nation over the past four years," he emphasized. The recovery of tens of thousands of children represents a critical first step in addressing what has been described as a humanitarian crisis. However, the challenges ahead remain daunting. The Trump administration's renewed focus on accountability and child welfare has brought a glimmer of hope to a deeply troubling chapter of U.S. immigration policy. As investigations unfold, the administration plans to release further details about the trafficking networks and individuals complicit in exploiting children. For now, the successful recovery of nearly 80,000 children serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance, oversight and compassion in protecting the most vulnerable among us. The story of these missing children is far from over, but the Trump administration's efforts have reignited a national conversation about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and the moral imperative to safeguard every child who crosses the border in search of safety and opportunity. Read more about Trump's immigration policy on Migrants.news. Watch the video below that talks about Trump's border czar Tom Homan warning illegal migrant criminals as Trump is also taking action about the migrant crisis. This video is from the Newsclips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Investigative journalist: Over 85,000 unaccompanied migrant children trafficked into the U.S. have been KIDNAPPED. DHS report: ICE has failed to track down location of thousands of unaccompanied migrant children. Federal government caught shipping hundreds of thousands of migrant kids around the U.S., like commodities.

Sources include:

YourNews.com OIG.DHS.gov Brighteon.com
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