A government watchdog recently found that the Trump administration waived FBI background checks for employees at the prison camp for migrant children in Tornillo, Texas, putting the more than 2,300 children imprisoned there at added risk. Now in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Sec. Alex Azar, a number of House Democrats, including the congressman expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee next year, say that HHS officials lied to them.
The reports that former Office of Refugee Resettlement director Scott Lloyd waived required FBI background checks, they write, “are particularly disturbing in light of a letter sent by Representatives [Jerry] Nadler, [Zoe] Lofgren, and [Pramila] Jayapal on October 11, 2018, that specifically asked, ‘What type of background checks are conducted on staff at emergency shelters?’ This letter resulted in a phone call with these offices where HHS officials misled staff by stating that HHS was acting in compliance with state requirements, conducting criminal background checks, and child abuse and neglect checks.”
BCFS, contracted by the administration to run the prison camp—a “temporary” jail that appears to have no end in sight—“has filed more than 30 reports on ‘significant incidents’ at Tornillo since June, some involving interactions between children and staff, but none of a sexual nature.” Another government contractor, Southwest Key, was also recently forced to give up licenses at two Arizona facilities for also failing to properly vet employees. Tornillo needs to be shut down. Members say they’re set to investigate.
“We expect HHS and ORR to ensure that the strongest protections are in place to protect the children in your custody,” they continue. “The Inspector General’s findings are unacceptable. In the next Congress, we will examine the Administration’s immigration and detention policies and the longstanding damage these policies may have on families and children. To this end, we look forward to the briefing in the coming days and to speaking with former Director Lloyd in the new Congress.”