Documentation obtained by congressional investigators has revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent unaccompanied minor children to sponsors who listed their address at a Florida strip club.

Upon arrival, some of these children were reportedly exploited by individuals posing as "family" members.

During a Capitol Hill hearing on Wednesday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra faced sharp questioning over the issue but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the lack of oversight in placing these vulnerable children.

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Critics noted that Becerra offered minimal condemnation of the egregious failures under his department’s watch.

A recent Inspector General report sheds further light on the scope of the problem.

Released in August, the report states that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transferred over 448,000 unaccompanied children (UCs) to HHS from fiscal years 2019 to 2023.

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However, ICE was unable to account for the location of all the children released by HHS, some of whom failed to appear for scheduled immigration court proceedings.

The report underscores the systemic challenges in tracking these minors once they leave federal custody, leaving many unaccounted for and at risk of exploitation.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could not monitor the location and status of all unaccompanied migrant children (UCs) or initiate removal proceedings as needed," the report states.

It highlights a glaring lack of coordination and oversight between federal agencies responsible for the welfare of these children.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra cannot answer why he placed unaccompanied children with sponsors whose address was a strip club.

He also cannot explain why he allowed them to be pimped out by individuals with no family ties to them. This is a sickening failure of oversight. pic.twitter.com/ozD8JBBaoB — Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) November 20, 2024

Tom Homan, the incoming Border Czar and former director of ICE, addressed the dire situation ahead of the hearing.

Homan revealed that at least 300,000 children are currently unaccounted for and pledged to prioritize locating them under the Trump administration’s new immigration policies.

"We got over 300,000 missing children. Over half a million children have been trafficking to United States. This Administration released them to unvetted sponsors, and they can't find 300,000 and based on my three and a half decades, some of these children are in forced labor. We already found some in forced labor. Some are in forced sex trafficking. Some of them are with pedophiles. We need to save these children."

Incoming Border Tom Homan: "We got over 300,000 missing children...This administration released them to unvetted sponsors...We need to save these children." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MVMcubdlwe

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 18, 2024

The revelation of children being placed with sponsors tied to exploitative activities has sparked outrage among lawmakers and child welfare advocates.

Congressional leaders have demanded accountability and immediate action to reform the systems responsible for managing unaccompanied minors.

Critics argue that the lack of oversight in HHS’s placement process represents a catastrophic failure of governance, putting some of the most vulnerable at risk.

Secretary Becerra’s lack of clear answers during Wednesday’s hearing has further fueled calls for an investigation into the department’s handling of migrant children.

Lawmakers are also pushing for greater interagency coordination to prevent such lapses in the future.

As Congress investigates these failures, the incoming Trump administration has signaled that addressing the crisis will be a top priority.

Plans to overhaul the handling of unaccompanied minors and ensure their safety are expected to feature prominently in the new administration’s immigration agenda.

With over 300,000 children still missing, the stakes are high.

Advocates warn that without immediate action, more minors could fall victim to exploitation or disappear altogether.

The revelations have cast a harsh spotlight on the challenges of balancing immigration enforcement with safeguarding vulnerable children, leaving many demanding answers and urgent reforms.

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