From Local 3 News: US Senator for Tennessee Marsha Blackburn has issued a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Patrick Lechleitner looking for answers as to why they have lost track of at least 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children (UCs).
Work on the bill started three years ago after evidence showed that social media platforms were causing health issues among teenage girls.
The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has confirmed that the 32,000 UCs have failed to appear for their court hearings. According to a new report from the OIG, they may have lost track of up to an additional 291,000 UCs who were not placed in removal proceedings and were never given a court date to begin with.
ICE has no formal policy in which to follow up with the court hearings. Therefore, the total number of children lost by the Department may be significantly higher.
Tennessee state Rep. Gloria Johnson has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and will face off against Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn in November.
“It is ICE’s duty to safely transfer UCs to HHS after they are initially taken into custody by border agents—as well as to manage and monitor their immigration cases. Yet, it is plain to me that you have failed in your most basic duty to keep these children safe from harm, as the OIG report found that ICE has failed to track the whereabouts of thousands of children who have been released or transferred from ICE’s custody,” said the Senator in her letter.
The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has confirmed that the 32,000 UCs have failed to appear for their court hearings. According to a new report from the OIG, they may have lost track of up to an additional 291,000 UCs who were not placed in removal proceedings and were never given a court date to begin with.
“It is ICE’s duty to safely transfer UCs to HHS after they are initially taken into custody by border agents—as well as to manage and monitor their immigration cases. Yet, it is plain to me that you have failed in your most basic duty to keep these children safe from harm, as the OIG report found that ICE has failed to track the whereabouts of thousands of children who have been released or transferred from ICE’s custody,” said the Senator in her letter.
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