DHS Secretary Mayorkas: Child Trafficking at the Border ‘Is Outside of Our Responsibility’

BRENNAN: “ICE was also unable to account for more than 32,000 unaccompanied kids who failed to appear in court from 2019 to 2023, according to the report we read. The incoming Border Czar, Tom Homan, says these children are being exploited and trafficked. Is that true?”
Mayorkas: “Well, we certainly —“
BRENNAN: “Do you know?”
Mayorkas: “Margaret, we certainly have received reports of children being trafficked, even those as to whom we know where they are. That is outside the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security.”
BRENNAN: “Mm-hmm.”
Mayorkas: “What we do is, we turn children over within 72 hours, as the law requires, to the Department of Health and Human Services, and then HHS places those children. Of course, we investigate cases of trafficking. But there are children who are reunited with a parent here in the United States or a legal guardian. And they move, and, sometimes, the government loses track. Individuals do not comply with the reporting obligations or otherwise. I think it is inaccurate to say that all of them are trafficked or victimized. There are a number of reasons why we might lose track of an individual. That is not necessarily specific to this administration. That has been a longstanding challenge in the immigration system. One example —“
BRENNAN: “Mm-hmm.”
Mayorkas: “— of why that system is so broken, why the duration of time in proceedings is unacceptably long and has to be remedied. Remember, we’re dealing with a system that was last reformed in 1996.”