Criminal Charges Announced
In a significant enforcement action, the Justice Department has charged three individuals in Ohio for conspiring to smuggle unaccompanied minors across the U.S. border. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche identified the indictment against Maritza Azucena Cahuec Coc and Carlos Cahuec Coc for conspiring to smuggle unaccompanied minors. A third person, Gladys Marina Caal Chen, was separately charged with making false statements on a sponsorship application. Blanche said the indictment is emblematic of a broader problem in which fraudsters serve as "super sponsors" of three or more unrelated unaccompanied minors, who are then trafficked for labor or sex.
Accusations Against Biden Administration
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin accused the Biden administration of neglect, alleging that they failed to vet sponsors and conduct wellness checks on migrant children. Mullin alleged that the Biden administration allowed 450,000 kids to go missing, claiming the Trump administration has located 146,000 of them. Mullin alleged that the Biden administration ignored reports showing that over a third of female migrants were sexually assaulted before reaching the U.S. border. However, the sources note the Biden administration did take some action in response to abuse concerns, including suing Southwest Key in July 2024 for alleged sexual abuse at a migrant processing facility.
Systemic Issues Highlighted
DOJ, DHS, and HHS officials announced they identified more than 81,000 addresses used repeatedly to receive unaccompanied minors, and identified over 76,000 missing mandatory safety checks and over 97,000 cases lacking background checks. Acting Director of the ORR, Angie Salazar, stated that child victims of crime are eligible to apply for a U-visa.
Impact on Migrant Children
The Trump administration's actions signal a shift towards stricter enforcement and accountability for those involved in the smuggling of migrant children.
