Source: Fox News
Summary
Xavier Becerra, a candidate for California governor, faces controversy over his handling of migrant children as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). During his tenure, over 85,000 children became untrackable by federal officials, sparking concerns about child labor trafficking. Becerra argued that the children were in the custody of vetted sponsors, but critics claim that the system prioritized speed over safety. An investigation by The New York Times found gaps in sponsor screening and follow-up, and the HHS Office of Inspector General reported similar findings.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Xavier Becerra’s team contests that unaccompanied minors were “lost,” while critics argue that the system prioritized speed over safety. The controversy is now part of his gubernatorial campaign. Republicans subpoenaed Becerra and HHS for records related to the vetting and monitoring of sponsors. The dispute never culminated in a clean public resolution. Watchdog reports eventually provided the clearest answer on whether the government was reliably tracking unaccompanied minors.
It’s business as usual in the performance of accountability.
Author: Evan Null
