House members press HHS on thousands of unaccompanied children unaccounted for; Kennedy outlines steps to verify sponsors
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Rep. James Clyde and others pressed Secretary Kennedy about missing unaccompanied children; Kennedy cited an Inspector General estimate and said the department is strengthening sponsor vetting with fingerprinting, DNA testing and income checks.
Several representatives questioned Secretary Kennedy about unaccompanied alien children (UAC) in HHS custody and the number of children who remain unaccounted for after release to sponsors.
Representative Troy A. Clyde asked whether HHS had approximate numbers for children who had gone missing after release; Kennedy answered that an Office of Inspector General estimate put the number at about 291,000 and said the true number could be higher, possibly up to roughly half a million, depending on methodology.
Kennedy described changes the department is implementing: fingerprinting sponsors, doing DNA testing where appropriate, verifying valid identification and conducting income checks before releasing children to sponsors. He said HHS has created a "war room" to track missing children and that HHS is sharing data with DHS and ICE so those agencies can carry out enforcement and investigative work.
Why it matters: Members described credible reports of exploitation and trafficking tied to the UAC process and said improved vetting and coordination are essential, including holding contractors and officials accountable. Kennedy said HHS would increase screening and data‑driven coordination with law enforcement.
Details
- Kennedy told the committee the OIG estimate of missing children is about 291,000 and that the actual number could be substantially higher.
- Kennedy said HHS is now requiring sponsors to show valid ID, will perform fingerprinting and DNA testing where needed, and will do income checks and other verifications before releasing children.
- Kennedy said HHS lacks enforcement capability and therefore coordinates with DHS/ICE for enforcement once potential matches are identified by HHS investigators.
Ending
Members asked for accountability for contractors and officials; Kennedy said criminal investigations and a task force were already under way and that HHS was working with other federal agencies to locate missing children and improve sponsor vetting.