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HHS official unsure of briefing time for Hill on Unaccompanied Children Program.

A⁣ senior Department of Health and Human Services ⁣(HHS) ‌executive was unable to provide a clear answer to a congressional oversight subcommittee regarding‍ the scheduling ‍of a briefing requested four months ago.‍ The briefing was meant to address⁢ the government’s process for placing ‍unaccompanied ​minors ⁢who cross into the U.S. at‍ the Southern border.

Representative Laurel‍ Lee‍ (R-Fla.) expressed ​her frustration, stating, “On March 2, 2023,⁤ the [House Judiciary] Committee ⁢requested ⁢a ⁢general⁢ briefing on the‌ Unaccompanied Children (UAC) placement ⁤process or‌ a demonstration of the UAC portal.⁤ It ‍has been‍ over four months, and we‌ have not yet received⁣ the ⁤briefing on the UAC or the demonstration of the portal.”

This exchange took place​ during the July ‍18​ hearing ‌of ‍the judiciary panel’s Subcommittee⁣ on ‌Responsiveness and ​Accountability‌ to ‌Oversight.⁤ The⁣ hearing aimed to address the Biden ⁢administration’s handling⁢ of⁢ congressional requests and subpoenas ⁣for information and documents. HHS​ Assistant ‌Secretary ⁢for Legislative ⁣Affairs Melanie​ Egorin and Naz⁣ Durakoglu, Assistant‍ Secretary‍ of State for the‍ Bureau of Legislative Affairs,​ were⁢ among‍ the‍ witnesses.

Representative ‍Lee continued her questioning,‌ asking Ms. Egorin when the briefing could be scheduled.​ Ms.‌ Egorin responded, “Congresswoman, I will have‍ my staff ‌reach ​out‌ to your office to ⁢start working through⁤ a process⁣ on that issue.”

A ⁤spokesman for HHS ​stated that‌ they ‌have repeatedly offered to hold a briefing,⁤ but ‍the ‌committee has not responded ⁣to schedule.⁣ They are still waiting‍ for a response ‍from ⁢the committee.


Minors ​who​ tested positive for COVID-19 sit ⁤in⁤ the ground at⁢ the Donna Department of⁣ Homeland Security holding‌ facility, the ⁣main detention‍ center for‍ unaccompanied ‌children ⁤in the Rio ‍Grande ⁣Valley run by the U.S. Customs​ and Border ⁣Protection, (CBP), in Donna, Texas, on March ⁤30, ‍2021. (AP ⁣Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, Pool)

Unanswered Questions

Representative Lee also raised concerns ⁣about the inability of⁢ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director ‌Robin ⁢Dunn Marcos to answer‌ multiple questions during ⁣a ⁤transcribed interview with committee investigators.⁣ These⁣ questions focused on how her ⁤staff ‍handles ​unaccompanied ​minors, including the screening‌ process for prospective ‍sponsors⁣ to ensure​ the safety of the children.

Ms. ‍Lee⁢ stated, “Dunn Marcos was⁤ unable to ‌provide⁢ information or⁣ answer a ⁣series of questions asked during a transcribed ​interview with the committee—about 30 ⁢questions ‍she was not able ‍to answer.​ For example, she couldn’t answer questions ‌about ‌whether the office she leads ⁣has a‍ policy to refer ‍known gang members ⁤to ​the ​Department of⁣ Justice. She ‍also wasn’t sure ‌during ‌that interview whether,​ during ⁣her‌ tenure, HHS had⁤ ever transferred‍ a child to‍ a home⁣ where a ‌registered sex offender lives, among other questions. We ​are​ also interested ⁤in how⁢ many unaccompanied ⁢alien children ⁣we⁤ have lost track of during this⁣ [Biden] administration.”

Ms. Lee expressed her ‌disappointment that the committee is ‍still waiting for answers promised by Ms. Dunn Marcos during​ the interview. Ms. Egorin responded, “Congresswoman, at this moment, I am unaware of where we are⁤ in terms of a timeline.⁣ I⁣ am happy to ⁤have my staff work with your ⁤staff and​ provide an update.”

Government ⁣data⁢ shows that over 128,000 ‍unaccompanied ⁤minors were referred to ⁤HHS in⁤ 2022. However, ⁢the​ actual number‌ of UACs in the United States is difficult ⁤to determine due​ to the dismissal of thousands of‌ cases by⁤ immigration‌ court ‍judges, according to the⁣ Center for Immigration Studies (CIS).

Some Democrats on the⁢ subcommittee⁤ questioned the necessity of‌ the hearing,‌ suggesting⁣ that ⁣the issues‌ raised were merely⁣ scheduling problems.


Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) ‌speaks‌ during a​ meeting in ‍Washington ⁢on June 17, 2020. (Kevin⁣ Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images)

“I ‍think that a lot of the ⁣questions that have been posed, they sound like scheduling issues ‌to⁣ me,” ⁢said Representative Eric Swalwell ​(D-Calif.).



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