Charleston Leader

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia has joined 42 Republican colleagues in a call to address issues within the Biden-Harris administration's unaccompanied migrant children program. Led by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the group sent a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to collaborate with Congress to address abuses in the program and halt what they describe as a cover-up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"[The Biden-Harris HHS] must stop its cover-up and cooperate with law enforcement and Congress to end this crisis and protect unaccompanied children and the American people," stated the lawmakers.

The letter highlights concerns about over 500,000 unaccompanied migrant children crossing the southwest border under the current administration, alongside an estimated 2,500% increase in cartel trafficking activity. The lawmakers criticize measures such as limited background checks for sponsors of these children, reduced familial DNA testing at the border, and decreased information sharing with law enforcement.

Additionally, they accuse the administration of ignoring oversight from Congress and the Office of the Inspector General. In December 2023, Senator Capito had previously joined other Republicans in urging officials to discard a Proposed Rule perceived as neglecting ORR's duty to protect vulnerable children from potential criminals. This rule was finalized in April 2024, prompting further action from Capito and her colleagues through a Congressional Review Act resolution.

The lawmakers are calling on President Biden and Vice President Harris to revise their policies to resolve what they describe as a public safety crisis. They emphasize enhancing cooperation with law enforcement and Congress, supporting DHS's child exploitation investigation, and addressing congressional oversight requests thoroughly.