A damning investigation has uncovered catastrophic failures within a United States government call centre established to protect unaccompanied migrant children from trafficking and abuse.
The helpline, operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was designed as a safety net for vulnerable young migrants who have entered the country alone. However, internal documents and whistleblower accounts reveal a system in chaos, leaving children at serious risk.
A System in Crisis
According to the investigation, the call centre is chronically understaffed and overwhelmed, resulting in:
- Thousands of unanswered calls from children and sponsors
- Critical delays in responding to safety concerns
- Inadequate training for staff handling complex child protection cases
- Missing follow-ups on potential trafficking situations
Children Falling Through the Cracks
The programme, intended to verify that children are safe with their sponsors, has repeatedly failed to identify warning signs of exploitation. Multiple cases have emerged where children who had been flagged for potential trafficking were never properly followed up, leaving them in dangerous situations.
"We're talking about the most vulnerable children imaginable," one former staff member revealed. "They come to this country alone, and the system that's supposed to protect them is broken at every level."
Government Response Under Scrutiny
Despite internal warnings and mounting evidence of systemic failures, the Biden administration has continued to fund and operate the flawed system. The investigation raises serious questions about accountability and whether proper safeguards are being implemented to prevent further harm to migrant children.
The revelations come amid growing concerns about the treatment of unaccompanied minors at the US border and their placement with sponsors across the country.
