Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO.) has demanded answers from the Biden administration following a troubling report that highlights the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children within the United States.

The DHS Inspector General revealed that between Fiscal Years 2019 and 2023, approximately 448,820 unaccompanied children were brought into the U.S. and handed over to sponsors without sufficient oversight, something for which presidential hopeful Kamala Harris may be pressed by senators -- as well as voters -- to answer, as the Post Millennial reports.

The report detailed that, of these children, a significant number have gone missing into the interior of the country, leaving them vulnerable to various forms of abuse.

Hawley criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its failure to protect these vulnerable individuals, pointing out that many children are not properly tracked after being transferred to sponsors.

Thousands of Migrant Children at Risk of Exploitation

The report indicated that since 2019, the number of unaccompanied children entering the U.S. has surged, particularly under the Biden-Harris administration. In 2019 and 2020, fewer than 50,000 children were brought into the country each year. However, these numbers have increased significantly in subsequent years.

Under current DHS policy, unaccompanied children are transferred from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and then released to sponsors.

However, the report suggests that the sponsors are not being adequately vetted, leading to a breakdown in tracking the children’s whereabouts.

Sen. Hawley expressed grave concerns over the lack of accountability, stating in a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, "Your agency may have lost track of more than a quarter million unaccompanied children -- a horrifyingly large number."

Alarming Failure to Track Unaccompanied Minors

The report further reveals that two-thirds of these children -- approximately 291,000 -- were not even given notices to appear in immigration court. This failure to issue court dates further complicates efforts to monitor their well-being and location.

For those who did receive court notices, an alarming number, about 32,000 children, failed to appear in court and were not subsequently tracked down by the authorities. This oversight has only heightened concerns about the safety and security of these minors.

Hawley’s letter to Secretary Mayorkas highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, "According to the report, your agency 'was not able to account' for the location of unaccompanied children who did receive court notices and failed to appear in immigration court."

Mayorkas Under Fire for DHS Failures

During an October 2023 Senate committee hearing, Secretary Mayorkas responded to these concerns, asserting that the DHS has prioritized rescuing children who have been victims of human trafficking.

However, Hawley remains unsatisfied with this response, citing the DHS Inspector General's report as evidence of systemic failures.

The report also uncovered that many children were trafficked and sent to addresses associated with suspected criminals, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.

These findings have only added fuel to the ongoing debate over the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the border crisis.

Public Demands Answers on Missing Children

As the number of missing children continues to rise, so does public concern. Many are calling for greater transparency and action from the administration to address these alarming lapses in child protection.

Hawley has urged Secretary Mayorkas to provide public answers regarding the whereabouts of these children and to outline the steps being taken to locate them. The senator’s letter emphasized the critical need for immediate action to prevent further exploitation of these vulnerable minors.

Conclusion: The Need for Greater Oversight

The disappearance of hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children in the U.S. is a crisis that demands urgent attention. With many of these children at risk of forced labor, sex trafficking, and other forms of abuse, it is imperative that the government implements stricter tracking and vetting processes.

Sen. Josh Hawley’s call for accountability highlights the importance of safeguarding these vulnerable minors and ensuring that they are not lost within the system. As the border crisis continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Biden-Harris administration will address these critical issues.