As Xavier Becerra campaigns for governor of California, a deeply troubling shadow hangs over his record: the disappearance of migrant children during his time as Secretary of Health and Human Services. The crisis unfolded amidst a surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border, overwhelming existing resources and creating a humanitarian emergency.
Shelters quickly became overcrowded, forcing officials to house children in stark, jail-like facilities and sprawling tent cities erected in major cities. The images of vulnerable children in these conditions sparked outrage and put immense pressure on the Biden administration to accelerate the process of reuniting them with sponsors.
A scathing investigation revealed a disturbing directive from Becerra himself, pushing HHS staff to prioritize speed over safety. He reportedly compared the situation to an inefficient assembly line, even as longstanding protections for children – including thorough background checks and file reviews – were quietly dismantled.
Internal concerns were mounting within HHS. Nearly a dozen officials warned that the rush to release children was fueling a rise in child labor trafficking. The system, they argued, incentivized quick releases rather than ensuring children were placed in safe and supportive environments.
Over a two-year period, more than 85,000 children effectively vanished from federal tracking systems. Becerra disputed the claim that they were “lost,” insisting they were with vetted sponsors, but acknowledged difficulties in reaching them for follow-up calls. He maintained that HHS’s responsibility ended once a child was placed with a sponsor.
His supporters pointed to the broken immigration system inherited from the previous administration, arguing Becerra was tasked with fixing a deeply flawed process. However, this explanation failed to quell the growing concerns about the well-being of vulnerable children.
The HHS Office of Inspector General confirmed significant gaps in the screening and follow-up procedures. Their investigation revealed missing documentation for required safety checks in 16% of cases and a lack of timely or documented follow-up calls in many others. Earlier reports, dating back to 2022, had already warned that expedited release guidance had compromised safeguards.
Critics were swift and harsh. One veteran Democratic strategist stated bluntly that Becerra “failed those kids, failed the country, and failed to do his job.” The strategist questioned Becerra’s suitability for the governorship, arguing voters deserved a leader capable of effectively managing a complex department.
House Republicans launched a formal investigation, subpoenaing Becerra and HHS for records related to sponsor vetting and monitoring. While hundreds of pages of documents were produced, Republicans deemed them insufficient, leading to a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill.
The dispute over document production ultimately remained unresolved. Instead of a clear outcome from Congress, the most definitive answers came from independent watchdog reports, which confirmed the government’s struggles to reliably track unaccompanied minors entering the United States.
