In a powerful revelation, White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced that approximately 157,000 children who entered the U.S. as unaccompanied minors have been located since the beginning of the Trump administration. This monumental effort shines a spotlight on the tragic consequences of unchecked border policies under the previous administration, where nearly half a million children were effectively lost.
Speaking to Jan Jekielek for "American Thought Leaders," Homan detailed how the Biden administration's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had prioritized quick release over proper vetting. "They weren't [held] very long, but the problem is they released them quickly because the sponsors weren't properly vetted," Homan stated. This lax approach led to the government losing track of an astonishing 300,000 children, creating a humanitarian crisis on American soil.
When President Donald Trump called Homan back to federal service for his second administration, one of the primary directives was clear and urgent: find these missing children. "He asked me to do three things: secure the border, run deportation operations, and find these kids," Homan recounted, emphasizing the President's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.
The task of locating these children has proven incredibly challenging. Homan explained that unlike adults, who leave a digital footprint through homes, cars, and credit cards, children do not. "We can find you, we can find me. ... Children don't," he observed, highlighting the immense investigative work involved in tracking down individuals released into the shadows.
The consequences of this negligence are heartbreaking and stark. Of the 157,000 children found, more than 20 have tragically died, victims of natural causes, drug overdoses, or violence. The grim reality underscores Homan's assertion that "illegal immigration is not a victimless crime." He passionately shared a harrowing account of a 9-year-old girl sexually assaulted during her journey, a trauma that "she's never going to be the same again."
Despite the ongoing progress, approximately 140,000 children still remain unaccounted for. Homan vowed relentless pursuit, stating, "Just because you're 18 and 19 doesn't mean they're not in forced labor or sex trafficking, so we're going to keep running down every one of these leads until we find them." This commitment extends even to those who have aged out of the system, recognizing the persistent dangers they face.
Predictably, some on Capitol Hill, such as Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), have condemned the Trump administration's plans to deport some located children back to Mexico. Wyden's letter to HHS claimed such actions "knowingly endangers their lives and violates your duty to these vulnerable children." Yet, this criticism conveniently sidesteps the fundamental failure of the prior administration that allowed these children to disappear into dangerous situations in the first place, putting political posturing ahead of common sense solutions to a border crisis they created.
President Trump's administration is holding the line, promising to continue the search until the very last day of his term. Homan reaffirmed this pledge: "President Trump has promised that we're going to look at this until the last day of the administration, and the American people can have my word that we're going to do that." This unwavering dedication showcases true leadership and accountability, contrasting sharply with the reckless policies that put these children at risk.
