The current administration’s handling of minors entering the country illegally is nothing short of a travesty. It seems like a plot from a chaotic sitcom, but unfortunately, the joke is on us. The Trump administration’s recent solution is to find someone, anyone, within the country to take them in. Handing over children to adults unrelated to them, most likely hoping for the best, seems to be their best plan, which is a plan fraught with peril and ripe for disastrous outcomes. Yet, it somehow slips under the radar of the public and policy debates.
A year ago, the enforcement memo sheepishly highlighted a lack of oversight once these minors are handed off to their so-called “sponsors.” Imagine the scenario: authorities tasked with caring for vulnerable children, yet once the hand-off happens, it’s a free-for-all. There’s an admission that there’s little idea what happens to these children once they’re no longer under federal oversight. Where is the accountability? It’s clear that allowing these minors to simply disappear into thin air doesn’t raise alarms for the current leadership.
The judiciary was presented with reporting that some 300,000 minors are missing. The response from officials is simply baffling. They claim these children aren’t missing from their agency because they no longer have jurisdiction. A classic dodge, if there ever was one. It’s a lack of responsibility disguised as bureaucratic efficiency, and the price paid is the safety and security of thousands of minors.
The involvement of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which isn’t a law enforcement entity, only complicates matters further. Those in charge appear to be burying their heads in the sand rather than acknowledging that things have gone seriously awry. Instead of effective oversight, there seems to be an intentional blurring of the lines to maintain the status quo of dysfunction. Figures in authority have allowed ORR to share sponsor information with ICE and CBP, which complicates tracking and notification efforts. It’s almost as if they don’t want the truth to get out.
Overall, it’s undeniable that the current approach has failed these vulnerable children. The entire episode is a glaring example of misplaced priorities and political gamesmanship. One must ponder why there isn’t more uproar and demand for accountability in this controversial handling of minors at the border. It’s a sad reflection of where things stand right now under leadership that has failed to provide clarity and security. The call for conservative principles and responsible governance is more urgent than ever to steer this ship back on course, towards safety and justice for all involved.
