Sen. Cornyn, Rep. Cuellar Demand Answers From Obama Administration On Growing Humanitarian Crisis in South Texas

Statement

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, today wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson regarding the growing humanitarian crisis along Texas' Southern border. The letter poses a series of questions related to the nearly 50,000 unaccompanied children who have been apprehended at the Southern border, including whether there are measures in place to track the children's whereabouts following release from the Department of Health and Human Services and how we can be assured they do not have criminal records or gang affiliations.

"Does DHS have any measures in places to track unaccompanied children after they are placed in the custody of HHS or a guardian designated by that Department? If not, then how does your Department help ensure that they do not end up in the hands of predators or sex offenders? If the child does not show up for their immigration court proceedings, do DHS officials check up on them to make sure that they are safe? Do DHS and HHS share any information about the child's guardian or whereabouts after they are released from HHS custody?"

"How many unaccompanied alien children with criminal records, gang affiliations, or suspected involvement in criminal activity have been apprehended at the Southern Border this Fiscal Year? Does DHS transfer these individuals to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) custody prior to the completion of their removal proceedings?"

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