HHS Cannot Account for Thousands of Migrant Children

 

 

The U.S. government placed tens of thousands of migrant children in unscreened homes without even writing down the phone numbers or addresses of the adults in charge, a congressional investigation revealed. As the government eased safety precautions to deal with an overwhelming number of unaccompanied minors, thousands of children were trafficked as slaves, abused, or simply disappeared.

 

Unaccompanied alien children (UACs) who enter the United States are under the custody and care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to a law passed in 2008. It is the department’s responsibility to move children out of over-occupied government shelters and into sponsors’ homes.

 

Last year, Ohio courts charged six defendants with enslaving at least six migrant children from Guatemala on egg farms in Marion County. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, led a Senate investigation and found systemic lapses in the care for migrant children by HHS officials. The investigation found thousands of children fell into the hands of sex traffickers or sexual predators due to a lack of proper background checks and lax procedures.

 

“It is intolerable that human trafficking—modern-day slavery—could occur in our own backyard,” Portman said at a Senate hearing today to address HHS failures. “Even more alarming is that a U.S. government agency was responsible.”

 

More than 90,000 migrant children have crossed American borders since 2013, and the numbers are not slowing down. Without enough space to house migrant children, HHS officials have expedited the process of placing children in homes of American sponsors.

 

The investigation found that HHS officials did not maintain consistent guidelines for placing children. Procedure dictates that family members of children receive precedence. But when family members were not found, HHS workers rushed the placement process. Officials stopped consistently fingerprinting adults seeking to claim the children. And in April 2014, the agency stopped requiring original birth certificates to prove sponsor identities.

 

Those omissions have led to thousands of children disappearing once placed with sponsors. HHS officials do not have phone numbers and often don’t know the addresses of sponsor homes.

 

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., teamed up with Portman to conduct the six-month investigation on the surge of unaccompanied migrant children and the shortcomings of HHS.

 

“I am disgusted and angry,” McCaskill said. “We only reviewed a fraction of these cases and we found so many objectionable activities.”

 

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., questioned two HHS officials about how they kept track of the thousands of children they are legally responsible for. He asked how many of the 90,000-plus children the HHS could contact if it needed to.

 

“We have no idea how many we could contact today,” said Mark Greenberg, the HHS assistant secretary of the Administration for Children and Families.

 

Greenberg and his colleague Robert Carey, the director of the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, struggled with the questions and evidence at the hearing. Carey did not come to the hearing with a prepared statement and repeatedly redirected or did not answer senators’ questions.

 

When pressed for an explanation of the crisis, Carey said he was “reluctant to speculate if something could have been done better.”

 

At one point during the hearing, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., became so frustrated by the HHS witnesses he got up and left. “This is the definition of non-cooperative,” he said. “[Greenberg and Carey’s] lack of knowledge of the facts is insulting.”

 

Greenberg added that his office had worked hard to adapt to the rapid increase in the size of the UAC program: “But this is an ongoing process while we review all of our policies.”

 

Since the surge of migrant children, around 4 percent of sponsors received home visits from HHS officials to ensure proper care despite the fact that since 2013 the HHS has more than $350 million in unspent funds for the UAC program, according to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

Effective Jan. 25, the HHS strengthened its criminal background checks for UAC sponsors in response to the alleged abuse of children under its care.

 

“Up until three days ago, it was the policy of the HHS that it was okay if other adults in the house had been convicted of sex crimes for children,” McCaskill said. “This is what really drives me crazy.”

 

Senators at the hearing called the new background checks a step in the right direction. But Portman made it clear more drastic overhauls need to be made.

 

“I continue to be troubled by the fact that HHS told us that it is literally unable to figure out how many children it has placed with convicted felons,” he said. “This must change.”

I accept

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more

Home
TNV RadioRadio
Mobile
Google+
Facebook
Twitter
Rss

Login
tnv logo
If Buhari Does Not Kill Corruption It Will Kill Buhari

News
Sports
Africa
World
Opinions
Politics
Business
Diaspora
Entertainment
LifeStyle
Real Estate
Classifieds
Media
Members

TheNigerianVoice Online Radio Center

General News | 4 February 2016 13:05 CET
0 Comment
Hope Brightens For Two Families As Airtel Airs Episode 4 Of Touching Lives Season 2
By Adebayo Dawodu
Previous | Next

Lagos, Nigeria; 4th February, 2016: The struggle for survival by two families comes to limelight this Sunday (7th February 2016) as Airtel Touching Lives Season 2 airs its fourth episode, featuring two compelling stories capable of inspiring millions of viewers.

Scheduled to air on Africa Magic Channel 151 on Sunday, by 7.30-8.00pm, episode 4 features the Salisu kids in the North who lost their father and two mothers when their mud house collapsed, exposing all the children to severe hardship.

The episode also features the story of two kids, Hannah and Moses, who are confronted with life-threatening heart problems, but their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Enakrakpor, lacked the financial capacity to bankroll the surgery for the kids.

Light, however, came at the end of the tunnel for the two families as Airtel offers support to uplift and empower the families. Viewers will see how the telco fulfilled its pledge and came to the rescue of the two families in episode 4.

Repeat shows will be televised on Africa Magic Family 154 on Saturdays 8pm to 8.30pm; Africa Magic Urban on Thursdays 7.30pm to 8.00pm; AIT on Sundays by 6.30pm to 7pm; NTA on Wednesdays by 8.30pm to 9.00pm and Arewa 24 TV on Sundays by 7.00pm to 7.30pm.

In last week’s episode, Airtel provided support for Gbenga Adesida, a blind man who was deserted by his wife. The telco also, in the last episode, fulfilled its promise to Galilee Foundation by donating items such as bags of rice, 50 litres of vegetable oil and 500 birds. Airtel also constructed a massive poultry for the foundation.

Through the Touching Lives platform, Airtel has been promoting the spirit of giving, self-sacrifice and love among Nigerians.

The Season 2 of the programme was premiered recently in Abuja with prominent individuals, government functionaries, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians in attendance.

Speaking at the launch of Touching Lives Season 2, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya said the telco rolled out the second edition of the revolutionary programme based on the monumental success recorded with the first season.

According to him, Airtel went the length and breadth of the country, in the first season, scouting for people who needed help and cause for support, noting that the journey yielded great results as the telco touched lives of many Nigerians.

“At Airtel, we believe, that for us to be a great company we must be good company and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the people we serve,” he said.


Read more at: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/205094/hope-brightens-for-two-families-as-airtel-airs-episode-4-of.html

I accept

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more

Home
TNV RadioRadio
Mobile
Google+
Facebook
Twitter
Rss

Login
tnv logo
If Buhari Does Not Kill Corruption It Will Kill Buhari

News
Sports
Africa
World
Opinions
Politics
Business
Diaspora
Entertainment
LifeStyle
Real Estate
Classifieds
Media
Members

TheNigerianVoice Online Radio Center

General News | 4 February 2016 13:05 CET
0 Comment
Hope Brightens For Two Families As Airtel Airs Episode 4 Of Touching Lives Season 2
By Adebayo Dawodu
Previous | Next

Lagos, Nigeria; 4th February, 2016: The struggle for survival by two families comes to limelight this Sunday (7th February 2016) as Airtel Touching Lives Season 2 airs its fourth episode, featuring two compelling stories capable of inspiring millions of viewers.

Scheduled to air on Africa Magic Channel 151 on Sunday, by 7.30-8.00pm, episode 4 features the Salisu kids in the North who lost their father and two mothers when their mud house collapsed, exposing all the children to severe hardship.

The episode also features the story of two kids, Hannah and Moses, who are confronted with life-threatening heart problems, but their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Enakrakpor, lacked the financial capacity to bankroll the surgery for the kids.

Light, however, came at the end of the tunnel for the two families as Airtel offers support to uplift and empower the families. Viewers will see how the telco fulfilled its pledge and came to the rescue of the two families in episode 4.

Repeat shows will be televised on Africa Magic Family 154 on Saturdays 8pm to 8.30pm; Africa Magic Urban on Thursdays 7.30pm to 8.00pm; AIT on Sundays by 6.30pm to 7pm; NTA on Wednesdays by 8.30pm to 9.00pm and Arewa 24 TV on Sundays by 7.00pm to 7.30pm.

In last week’s episode, Airtel provided support for Gbenga Adesida, a blind man who was deserted by his wife. The telco also, in the last episode, fulfilled its promise to Galilee Foundation by donating items such as bags of rice, 50 litres of vegetable oil and 500 birds. Airtel also constructed a massive poultry for the foundation.

Through the Touching Lives platform, Airtel has been promoting the spirit of giving, self-sacrifice and love among Nigerians.

The Season 2 of the programme was premiered recently in Abuja with prominent individuals, government functionaries, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians in attendance.

Speaking at the launch of Touching Lives Season 2, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya said the telco rolled out the second edition of the revolutionary programme based on the monumental success recorded with the first season.

According to him, Airtel went the length and breadth of the country, in the first season, scouting for people who needed help and cause for support, noting that the journey yielded great results as the telco touched lives of many Nigerians.

“At Airtel, we believe, that for us to be a great company we must be good company and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the people we serve,” he said.
More General News »
Comments:
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.

Do you have an article for publication? Please email it to editor@thenigerianvoice.com.
1
0 Comment

General News
What Buhari Achieved In 7 Months – Presidency
Thursday, February 4, 2016 The Presidency has risen in defence of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he has achieved a lot in t ...
Red Star Express Restates Commitment To Compliance With Regulations
Thursday, February 4, 2016 A foremost logistics company in Nigeria, Red Star Express, a licensee of Federal Express Corporation ...
Olashore Wins International School Award
Thursday, February 4, 2016 A globally-acclaimed secondary school in Nigeria, Olashore International School, has won the British ...
Investigations Reveal World's Biggest Alcohol Consumer
Thursday, February 4, 2016 Al Jazeera investigates the world's biggest alcohol consumer South Korea consumes more liquor t ...
show more stories


by Taboola
Sponsored Links
From The World
The Only 2 Sites You Need to Know About When Building a Webs…Top 10 Best Website Builders
These 3 Shouldn’t Have Won the Lottery (But They Did!)theLotter.com
Why Nigerians Seek Medical Treatment AbroadMedical Tourism
That's How You Find Super Cheap Flights!Save70

Follow Us
google+ twitter facebook linkedin rss feed Mobile Phone Email News Alerts
A BLIND MAN WHO PROPOSES A STONE THROWING COMPETITION IS ALREADY STEPPING ON A STONE
By: FRANCIS TAWIAH -->D
More Quotes | Submit Quote

Recent Popular Comments

Thumbs Up To Buhari’s Sturdy Stance Against Devaluation Thumbs Up To Buhari’s Sturdy Stance Against Devaluation
Terra Launches Pulse To Improve Quality Of Remittance Reporting Terra Launches Pulse To Improve Quality Of Remittance Reporting
Carmudi Nigeria Compared Price Of Broadband Across Africa Carmudi Nigeria Compared Price Of Broadband Across Africa
#2016 Budget 25 Random Observations #2016 Budget 25 Random Observations
Hope Brightens For Two Families As Airtel Airs Episode 4 Of Touching Lives Season 2 Hope Brightens For Two Families As Airtel Airs Episode 4 Of Touching Lives Seaso
What Buhari achieved in 7 months – Presidency What Buhari Achieved In 7 Months – Presidency
Red Star Express restates commitment to compliance with regulations Red Star Express Restates Commitment To Compliance With Regulations
Olashore wins International School award Olashore Wins International School Award
Investigations reveal world's biggest alcohol consumer Investigations Reveal World's Biggest Alcohol Consumer
read more
About Us

About us
Contact us
Site Map
Partners Links

Services

Advertising
E-mail News
News Feeds
News Widgets

News

General News
Sports News
Music News
Movies News

Sports

Premier League
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010
FIFA Worldcup 2010

Opinions

Have Your Say
Feature Articles
Editorials
Opinions

Entertainment

Music News
Movie News
Video Clips
Audio Albums

Directories

Real Estates
Classifieds
Yellow pages
Books

FaceTwitterGoogle+

All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. 2005-2016, © Copyright ModernGhana.com
Other sites of MG Media Group Modern Ghana, The Nigerian Voice, Nigeria Films


Read more at: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/205094/hope-brightens-for-two-families-as-airtel-airs-episode-4-of.html

Lagos, Nigeria; 4th February, 2016: The struggle for survival by two families comes to limelight this Sunday (7th February 2016) as Airtel Touching Lives Season 2 airs its fourth episode, featuring two compelling stories capable of inspiring millions of viewers.

Scheduled to air on Africa Magic Channel 151 on Sunday, by 7.30-8.00pm, episode 4 features the Salisu kids in the North who lost their father and two mothers when their mud house collapsed, exposing all the children to severe hardship.

The episode also features the story of two kids, Hannah and Moses, who are confronted with life-threatening heart problems, but their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Enakrakpor, lacked the financial capacity to bankroll the surgery for the kids.

Light, however, came at the end of the tunnel for the two families as Airtel offers support to uplift and empower the families. Viewers will see how the telco fulfilled its pledge and came to the rescue of the two families in episode 4.

Repeat shows will be televised on Africa Magic Family 154 on Saturdays 8pm to 8.30pm; Africa Magic Urban on Thursdays 7.30pm to 8.00pm; AIT on Sundays by 6.30pm to 7pm; NTA on Wednesdays by 8.30pm to 9.00pm and Arewa 24 TV on Sundays by 7.00pm to 7.30pm.

In last week’s episode, Airtel provided support for Gbenga Adesida, a blind man who was deserted by his wife. The telco also, in the last episode, fulfilled its promise to Galilee Foundation by donating items such as bags of rice, 50 litres of vegetable oil and 500 birds. Airtel also constructed a massive poultry for the foundation.

Through the Touching Lives platform, Airtel has been promoting the spirit of giving, self-sacrifice and love among Nigerians.

The Season 2 of the programme was premiered recently in Abuja with prominent individuals, government functionaries, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians in attendance.

Speaking at the launch of Touching Lives Season 2, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya said the telco rolled out the second edition of the revolutionary programme based on the monumental success recorded with the first season.

According to him, Airtel went the length and breadth of the country, in the first season, scouting for people who needed help and cause for support, noting that the journey yielded great results as the telco touched lives of many Nigerians.

“At Airtel, we believe, that for us to be a great company we must be good company and we are very much committed to earning our social license – the love and acceptance of the people we serve,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/205094/hope-brightens-for-two-families-as-airtel-airs-episode-4-of.html