Letter to the Hon. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Blackburn, Hagerty, Fleischmann Request Briefing after Reports of Abuse at Chattanooga Migrant Facility

Letter

Dear Secretary Becerra,

We write regarding today's report that a 16-year-old boy went missing on June 14 from a Chattanooga facility housing unaccompanied alien children (UACs) in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as yesterday's statement by the Tennessee Commissioner of Children's Services that this facility, which is managed by the Georgia-based Baptiste Group, is under state and federal investigation based upon recent child abuse allegations by a child at the facility.

This allegation of abuse and the missing child individually raise urgent questions that demand immediate answers regarding the steps HHS is taking to ensure the safety and well-being of UACs in this Chattanooga facility. More generally, given the large number of UACs being placed in HHS custody in the interior of the United States due to the ongoing border crisis, we request a briefing to discuss your Department's management of UACs in federal custody throughout the United States and efforts to ensure their well-being.

We have requested transparency regarding these matters for several weeks, including through a May 20 letter, as well as the introduction of the Migrant Resettlement Transparency Act, which would require that the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security consult with governors and mayors in affected jurisdictions regarding resettlement of non-detained illegal aliens and submit a monthly state-specific report regarding such resettlement efforts.

This new information only underscores the need for such transparency. Thank you for your prompt attention to this letter and these questions, and we look forward receiving your answers as soon as possible.

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