U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security today wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson regarding the growing humanitarian crisis along Texas’ Southern border. The letter poses a series of questions related to the nearly 50,000 unaccompanied children who have been apprehended at the Southern border, including whether there are measures in place to track the children’s whereabouts following release from the Department of Health and Human Services and how we can be assured they do not have criminal records or gang affiliations.

“Does DHS have any measures in places to track unaccompanied children after they are placed in the custody of HHS or a guardian designated by that Department? If not, then how does your Department help ensure that they do not end up in the hands of predators or sex offenders? If the child does not show up for their immigration court proceedings, do DHS officials check up on them to make sure that they are safe? Do DHS and HHS share any information about the child’s guardian or whereabouts after they are released from HHS custody?”

“How many unaccompanied alien children with criminal records, gang affiliations, or suspected involvement in criminal activity have been apprehended at the Southern Border this Fiscal Year? Does DHS transfer these individuals to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) custody prior to the completion of their removal proceedings?”

The full text of the letter is below.

The Honorable Jeh Johnson

Secretary of Homeland Security

Washington, D.C.  20528

Secretary Johnson:

As you are aware, the Southern Border is currently ground-zero for a growing humanitarian crisis. Since October, nearly 50,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended at the Southern border after making a treacherous journey from Central America through regions of Mexico controlled by drug cartels like the Zetas. The children who have made this journey are alone and vulnerable—facing the threat of murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual slavery, and forced labor at the hands of these savage criminal organizations. Last year, Time magazine reported that “Cartels control most of Mexico’s smuggling networks through which victims are moved, while they also take money from pimps and brothels operating in their territories.” Human rights organizations and academics estimate that as many as six in 10 women and girl migrants experience sexual violence during the journey through Mexico. This is especially troubling given the recent increase in the number of unaccompanied alien children who are girls and who are under the age of 13.

As the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security, and a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, we  ask that you work with us to ensure the American people that your Department has achieved control of this humanitarian crisis by providing prompt responses to the following questions:

1.      Do you agree that the human smuggling networks and corridors being used by unaccompanied children are operated by drug cartels, who regularly engage in sex trafficking, kidnapping, child exploitation, and murder? Is travel through these corridors ever safe for an unaccompanied child?

2.      Since October 2013, approximately 50,000 unaccompanied alien children have been apprehended at our Southern border—the majority of whom began their journey in Central America. If 50,000 of these children were able to make the long and dangerous journey to our Southern border, we are concerned that many never made it to America because of murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, or other violent crime. Does the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have any estimates of the number of unaccompanied alien children who suffered this fate?

3.      What percentage of unaccompanied alien children apprehended at the Southern Border this Fiscal Year were the victims of violent crime or exploitation while traveling through Mexico?

4.      What percentage of unaccompanied alien children apprehended at the Southern Border during this Fiscal Year applied for asylum? What percentage of these children received such relief?

5.      What is the average age of the unaccompanied alien children who have illegally crossed the Southern Border since October 2013? How does DHS verify that all persons claiming to be an unaccompanied alien child are, in fact, less than 18 years of age?

6.      How many unaccompanied alien children with criminal records, gang affiliations, or suspected involvement in criminal activity have been apprehended at the Southern Border this Fiscal Year? Does DHS transfer these individuals to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) custody prior to the completion of their removal proceedings?

7.      How many unaccompanied alien children who have been released from DHS custody with a Notice to Appear this Fiscal Year have absconded from their immigration court proceedings? How many have been paroled into the United States? How many have voluntarily departed the United States? How many have been subjected to expedited removal?

8.      Does DHS have any measures in places to track unaccompanied children after they are placed in the custody of HHS or a guardian designated by that Department? If not, then how does your Department help ensure that they do not end up in the hands of predators or sex offenders? If the child does not show up for their immigration court proceedings, do DHS officials check up on them to make sure that they are safe? Do DHS and HHS share any information about the child’s guardian or whereabouts after they are released from HHS custody?

9.    Has the surge in illegal border crossers and the number of unaccompanied alien children apprehended by DHS diverted critical resources away from your Department’s border security and national security objectives? What is your Department’s plan to ensure than transnational criminal organizations do not exploit the vulnerabilities exposed by the crisis on our Southern border?

10.  To date, what is the estimated financial impact of this crisis on our home state of Texas? What are you doing to ensure that Texas officials are reimbursed for the costs imposed on them by your Department’s failure to control the border?

11.  How many unaccompanied alien children do you estimate that DHS will apprehend at the Southern Border during Fiscal Year 2014? Do you estimate that this number will increase in Fiscal Year 2015, and if so, by how much?

12.  What process is available for state and local entities and non-profit organizations to offer their services and facilities to assist in this effort?  

I appreciate your cooperation and look forward to receiving your responses by July 2nd, 2014.

Sincerely,