Senator Cassidy calls for hearing on migrant shelter abuse

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has formally requested a hearing from Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, to investigate allegations of abuse within the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). In a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, Cassidy emphasized the need for oversight, stating that the HELP Committee is responsible for ensuring the safety of unaccompanied children in ORR custody. The call for a hearing comes in the wake of a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against Southwest Key Programs, a major government contractor overseeing shelters for migrant children. The lawsuit alleges a disturbing pattern of sexual abuse and harassment occurring in these facilities since 2015. Southwest Key, which has received $5.5 billion in taxpayer funding, operates 29 federal shelters where children are placed after being apprehended at the southern border. Cassidy described the allegations in the DOJ lawsuit as “despicable,” detailing claims of inappropriate touching, solicitation of sexual acts, and other forms of harassment by staff members. He raised concerns about the failure of staff to prevent or report such abuse, suggesting that if these issues went unnoticed at Southwest Key, similar problems could exist at other ORR facilities. Furthermore, Cassidy highlighted troubling practices within ORR, alleging that the agency has silenced whistleblowers and retaliated against those who report abuse. He has urged Sanders to convene a hearing with representatives from both HHS and Southwest Key to address these serious concerns.