CASA sues HHS for missing migrant children records

A new lawsuit has been filed to investigate the fate of thousands of migrant children who went missing during the Biden administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border crisis. The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) claims the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has not responded to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The lawsuit highlights concerns about the safety of these children, especially after whistleblower reports suggested that over 85,000 unaccompanied minors were placed with poorly vetted sponsors. CASA aims to bring transparency to the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) processes and spending. Since the Biden administration took office, there have been unprecedented migrant encounters at the southern border, with over 8.5 million recorded. A significant portion of these encounters involved unaccompanied minors. Critics argue that the Biden administration has obstructed investigations related to these missing children. CASA filed a FOIA request in July 2024 for information about ORR contracts and the placement of unaccompanied minors. After nearly 240 days without a response, CASA decided to pursue legal action. HHS has not commented on the lawsuit or the FOIA request.