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Hearing Wrap Up: ORR Director Fails to Answer Questions About 85,000 Lost Unaccompanied Alien Children, Flawed Vetting of Sponsors, and More - United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
United States House Committee on Oversight and Accountability
Rep. Perry: “As I understand it, ORR has a statutory obligation to care for the unaccompanied child. That’s what I’m reading here in your mission.”
Director Marcos: “That is correct.”
Rep. Perry: “If that’s the case, why is it on March 22nd, ORR removed the proof of address requirement and exempted other household members from submitting to a background track or providing identification? How does that aide in the obligation to care?”
Director Marcos: “I think what you are referring to was in the spring of ’21 when there were children backed up, over 4,000, in DHS.”
Rep. Perry: “So, since they’re backed up, we just remove the requirement – lower the standard. That’s essentially what you’re saying right?”
Rep. Perry continued: “On March 31st of 2021, just a couple days later, ORR eliminated the background check requirement for immediate relatives other than a parent or legal guardian. Why would that be? How does that enhance the obligation to care?”
Ms. Marcos: “ORR’s belief is that a child is best with their best or legal guardian.”
Rep. Perry: “How can you be sure it’s their parent?”
The ORR director was not able to provide details to Rep. Perry’s question as to whether she had investigated the termination of whistleblowers for raising red flags with regard to placement of children.
Rep. Perry: “Did you look into the whistleblowers that were listed in the New York Times? Did you look into any of their cases as they were terminated after raising issues?”
Director Marcos: “Congressman, that article just came out. We have a team looking into it.”
Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.) asked why the Biden Administration only announced a crackdown on child labor practices after publication of a New York Times article instead of taking responsibility for mismanagement at ORR and the unprecedented increase in UAC.
Rep. LaTurner: “Approximately 66 percent of UAC’s work full time jobs, as reported by the New York Times. The Biden Administration only began to take corrective action to rectify the illegal child labor market following the publication of this piece. Was the Biden Administration unaware of this labor market vulnerability or unwilling to address it at the risk of drawing further attention to this issue?”
Director Marcos: “… We have just formalized an agreement and are leaning in to increasing policies and procedures to combat this. This is a whole of government approach.”
