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A breaking investigation into a chilling threat to America’s most vulnerable: Unaccompanied minors crossing the southern border could be finding themselves in the hands of dangerous MS-13 gang members. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced earlier this week that several contractors under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may have placed these children in homes with known criminal affiliations.

The Iowa Senator’s determination to expose this horrifying reality inspired him to launch a “sweeping review” of HHS and the nine contractors responsible for the vetting and placement process of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children. Targeting Deloitte Consulting LLP, Center for Family Services, General Information Dynamics Technology, Alba Care Services, Holy Family Institute, Global Refuge, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Morrison Child and Family Services, and Sunny Glen Children’s Home, Grassley’s search for answers is unrelenting.

Grassley revealed in his letters to these contractors that whistleblowers and internal records both indicated a lack of proper vetting and care. Children may have been sponsored by individuals involved in smuggling or trafficking, or even connected to the deadly MS-13 gang. “Shockingly, children were even placed by HHS and one of its contractors after they were notified of likely MS-13 gang affiliation in the household,” the senator noted, emphasizing that “records related to this placement appear to have been deleted,” hinting at possible attempts to cover up HHS’s failures.

The contractors received demands for specifics on the verification and outcomes of sponsorships, along with records regarding the transportation and whereabouts of these unaccompanied children. Grassley did not shy away from confronting HHS’s attempts to redirect questions about contractors’ work back to the government agency, an “apparent obstructive instruction.” He took HHS Secretary Becerra to task on March 14, ensuring contractors’ cooperation with the congressional inquiry and reinforcing Congress’s constitutional duty to oversee the use of taxpayer dollars effectively.

An inspector general report from February highlights the systemic nature of these issues, revealing that many children were released to sponsors without proper background checks, while over a third of the time, HHS’s contractors failed to verify if the provided documents were even legible. This kind of neglect contrasts sharply with the challenges facing President Joe Biden’s administration, as record-high numbers of unaccompanied children continue to arrive at the border.

As America grapples with the mounting crisis of illegal immigration, the stakes grow higher for unaccompanied children. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s unwavering pursuit of justice for these vulnerable youth reveals an important question: Can the government protect the innocent from falling into the hands of violent criminals? The answer to this question will determine the fate of countless children who, despite their treacherous and illegal journey, are now entangled in a dangerous web of government negligence and criminal activity.

Americans must demand transparency and accountability from the government and its contractors to ensure that no more unaccompanied minors become pawns in the hands of the sinister MS-13 gangs. The final word on this chilling investigation by Sen. Grassley will be a watershed moment in American immigration policy and the fight to protect the vulnerable from exploitation. Will the government rise to the occasion, or will it continue to place innocent lives at risk? The nation watches with bated breath.