Thousands of Migrant Children Sent to Unvetted Adults

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released new data Monday from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) showing that the Biden-Harris administration placed more than 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children with unvetted sponsors between January 2021 and January 2025.

BREAKING: Biden administration placed over 10,000 migrant children with unvetted sponsors, according to newly released HHS data from Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley.

— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) August 19, 2025

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The information, provided to Grassley by the Trump administration as part of his ongoing oversight investigation, confirmed long-standing concerns about the handling of unaccompanied minors during the previous administration.

Grassley said his requests for information had been delayed or ignored until the data was turned over this year.

Biden-Harris admin refused 2 comply w my multiple investigative requests for this info NUMBERS DONT LIE Its plain as day the last admin mismanaged the program + put kids at risk

— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 18, 2025

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According to the records, HHS’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) placed 11,488 unaccompanied minors with sponsors who were neither parents nor legal guardians and who were not vetted through background checks.

The report also revealed that HHS declined to conduct home studies for more than 79,000 children under the age of 12, even in cases where a home study had been recommended.

In a statement, Grassley called the findings deeply troubling.

“My oversight continues to expose disturbing evidence that the Biden-Harris administration turned a blind eye to tens of thousands of kids who needed proper supervision and care,” he said.

“It’s appalling to prioritize speed and optics over the safety and wellbeing of children. I appreciate the Trump administration’s efforts to undo the damage caused by the last administration’s failed border policies, and I’ll continue my oversight of the issue to ensure abuse like this never happens again.”

The revelations come as Congress continues to examine the handling of unaccompanied children at the southern border, a program managed by ORR that has faced criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups for years.

The lack of comprehensive vetting of sponsors has raised concerns that children could be placed in unsafe environments, including situations involving potential exploitation or trafficking.

Following the release of the data, the Trump administration confirmed that it has already begun implementing reforms to address vulnerabilities in the program.

In February, federal officials launched an interagency initiative and investigation to identify suspected fraud within the unaccompanied minor system and to combat trafficking concerns.

Grassley has been conducting oversight of the program since his tenure as Judiciary chairman began.

His office has previously reported irregularities in the sponsor system, citing cases where children were placed with individuals who lacked proper identification or clear ties to the minors. Monday’s disclosure marks the most extensive set of figures provided to date.

The new initiative under President Trump aims to strengthen background checks, mandate home studies for high-risk placements, and enhance coordination among federal and state agencies.

Officials say the reforms are designed to ensure accountability in the placement process and to prevent lapses in oversight that have been documented over the past four years.

Grassley indicated that his committee will continue pressing for transparency from HHS and ORR, noting that further hearings and reports are planned to review how the system allowed the placement of thousands of children with unvetted adults.

“This data confirms what we feared: that children were put at risk by a system that prioritized appearances over accountability,” Grassley said.