Child sex trafficking cases have surged under the Biden-Harris administration, with new reports revealing a tripling of youth trafficking incidents since 2020, raising alarms about U.S. border policies.
A recent report has revealed a shocking surge in child sex trafficking cases under the Biden-Harris administration, with numbers tripling since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office. The Free Press reported that the lax border policies overseen by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have contributed significantly to the rise in trafficking incidents, with dire consequences for vulnerable migrant youth.
The report detailed horrifying abuse inflicted on young migrants by trafficking networks. Landon Dickeson, executive director of Bob’s House of Hope, a Texas-based shelter for male trafficking victims, described the extreme cruelty faced by these youth. “We’ve seen teens from Central and South America who have been so tortured by their traffickers they can barely function,” Dickeson said. Many victims, he explained, suffer brain damage from being heavily drugged, while others have endured physical torture such as having their fingernails pulled out and wounds treated with lemon juice.
According to the report, trafficking victims, often indebted to smugglers and gangs, are forced into prostitution and labor to repay these debts. Their families back home are often threatened with losing their homes or farms if payments are not made. The rising number of youth trafficking cases has been documented by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which issues Certification and Eligibility Letters to trafficking victims. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the number of letters issued has soared: 1,143 in 2021, 2,226 in 2022, and 2,148 in 2024, adding up to 5,517 letters since October 2020.
In contrast, under former President Donald Trump, the number of trafficking certifications averaged just 562 per year. The current administration has faced sharp criticism for its handling of border security and migration policies, which have been blamed for creating an environment ripe for exploitation. The number of child trafficking cases, in fact, is now three times higher than the adult caseload, according to HHS data.
The report also highlights how the administration’s border policies have left trafficking victims vulnerable. Mayorkas’ policies have faced little challenge from Vice President Harris, who notably “ran away” from taking responsibility for border issues in 2021. Harris has since endorsed Mayorkas’ overall policies in her economic platform.
There is concern about potential fraud in the process of granting trafficking victims the fast track to citizenship, much like the controversial “U Visa” program for crime victims. Critics argue that some unaccompanied minors arriving in the U.S. may be posing as younger than 19 to gain protection or asylum.
Further whistleblower accounts suggest that the situation may be even worse than reported. Deborah White, who worked in a government-funded shelter, testified that migrant children were handed over to sponsors with fraudulent identification and questionable backgrounds. White recalled a case in which 329 children were sent to a single address in Houston, Texas, yet her superiors ignored her concerns.
Efforts by federal agencies to combat child trafficking, such as a recent operation in Houston, have resulted in arrests, but authorities admit the problem remains severe. “Numerous young girls will no longer be raped, sexually exploited, and beaten by the individuals arrested during this operation,” said FBI Special Agent David Martinez, following the arrest of 10 human traffickers in September 2023. He added, however, that many more victims remain unrescued due to a lack of information.
As border policies under the Biden-Harris administration continue to be scrutinized, the growing issue of child trafficking remains a critical concern. The Free Press report points to how border policies, rather than protecting vulnerable migrants, have allowed criminal networks to thrive, with young migrants often paying the steepest price.
