Trump Admin Unearths Fraud in Migrant Child Sponsor Vetting
Trump administration uncovers widespread fraud in migrant child sponsor vetting, raising concerns over past immigration policies.
2 min read
The Trump administration has uncovered a significant number of fraud cases related to the sponsors of migrant children who crossed the border alone, according to an internal memo obtained by The Daily Wire. These findings highlight the vulnerabilities in the vetting process that occurred under the Biden administration.
Over 450,000 Migrant Children Placed in Care
Under the Biden administration, more than 450,000 migrant children crossed the border as unaccompanied minors and were placed into the care of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). This agency was tasked with vetting their sponsors before their release. Federal officials at the time relaxed vetting standards and expedited the release process, with nearly 99% of sponsor applications approved between October 2023 and September 2024.
Officials Acknowledge Risks of Expediting Releases
John Fabbricatore, a senior administration official at ORR, stated that officials were aware some children ended up with traffickers or individuals who exploited and abused them. He described the process as an ‘assembly line,’ prioritizing speed over thoroughness.
Trump Administration Investigates Fraud
When President Donald Trump returned to the White House, officials began looking into potential fraud cases. In March 2025, ORR discovered a backlog of 65,000 reports of potential sponsor fraud that went unanswered. Some of these reports came directly from the migrant minors themselves.
Fraudulent Documents and Misleading Information
ORR found that between October 1, 2023, and October 31, 2024, roughly 1,669 fraud reports were received. HHS noted that the average rate of intentional document or information fraud remained at approximately 77% of reported Child Level Events (CLE). Additionally, 85% of cases reviewed by the Office of the General Counsel involved intentional document fraud.
Tragic Consequences of Vetting Failures
Sponsors submitted fraudulent IDs, photographs, fingerprints, and addresses. Some failed to disclose all household members, while others lied about their ages, often being adults. In one case, a 15-year-old girl was released to a sponsor claiming to be her biological brother, with no verification of his identity. Authorities later discovered the sponsor was not related and had raped and impregnated the girl, leading to state charges.
Further Tragedies and Calls for Better Vetting
Another case involved a 17-year-old migrant boy released to a sponsor who claimed she was his stepsister. The woman provided unverifiable Venezuelan documents. In October 2024, the child was found dead in a car, along with a 30-year-old man. Fabbricatore emphasized that better vetting could have prevented these tragedies, but the process was rushed and lacked necessary scrutiny.
Source: Daily Wire
