At least 33 migrant children were sexually abused at border shelters during the first weeks of Biden's administration claims new HHS report

  • Documents released by the HHS revealed 33 incidents of sexual abuse involving unaccompanied migrant children at the United State's southern border 
  • It also cited 12 cases of physical abuse between staff members or foster parents and underage immigrant children, or between UACs themselves
  • The 42-page document showed that all of the sexual abuse allegations took place between January 21, 2021 and February 26, 2021
  • The documents came just as Haitian migrants were seen carrying children and food as they tried to escape Border Patrol officers and cross into the US

Dozens of incidents of sexual abuse involving unaccompanied migrant children were reported at border shelters, according to Judicial Watch documents released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

At least 33 sexual abuse incidents occurred between January 21 and February 26 this year - just as President Joe Biden worked to dismantle Donald Trump's tough immigration policies. 

Five of the reported sexual abuse allegations took place at Sunny Glen Children's Home New Day Resiliency Center. 

But within hours of taking office, Biden sent a far reaching immigration bill to Congress to ease the path to US citizenship and end construction of Trump's wall. 

Documents released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed 33 incidents of sexual abuse involving unaccompanied migrant children at the United State's southern border (pictured: UACs aged three to nine inside a playpen at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas)

Documents released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed 33 incidents of sexual abuse involving unaccompanied migrant children at the United State's southern border (pictured: UACs aged three to nine inside a playpen at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas)

In the roughly one month period, the watchdog group Judicial Watch also reported 12 cases of physical abuse involving unaccompanied alien children (pictured: UACs inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas)

In the roughly one month period, the watchdog group Judicial Watch also reported 12 cases of physical abuse involving unaccompanied alien children (pictured: UACs inside a pod at the Donna Department of Homeland Security holding facility in Donna, Texas)

By the end of January he lifted restrictions on immigration visas and reversed Trump's travel bans on predominantly Muslim countries, telling reporters: 'I'm not making new law. I'm eliminating bad policy.'

He also voided the Trump administration's executive order that called for the immediate deportation of all undocumented immigrants living in the US.  

The result has triggered a surge of immigrants arriving at the southern border despite repeated claims from administration officials that they inherited a broken system.  

The HHS documents detail just how 'broken' the situation is. 

In the roughly one month period, the HHS documents show that watchdog group Judicial Watch reported 12 cases of physical abuse involving unaccompanied alien children (UAC), and the incident reports are detailed in the document obtained by Fox News.

In January, one staff member reported that a fellow employee was allegedly mistreating a seven-year-old boy at the Texas border. While no injuries were reported the document noted that the incident had not been investigated and was not reported to local law enforcement.

The 'resolution' was cited as: 'Staff involved in incident was removed from supervision of child.'  

A month later a 13-year-old girl from Honduras, who is currently a UAC in the Friends of Youth program in Renton, Washington, told her case manager that her foster parent hits her when she gets angry.  

While most instances cited program staff members as perpetrators of the abuse, other cases involved physical fights between peers, such as when a 17-year-old UAC from Guatemala was punched in the ribcage by his roommate. 

The 42-page document showed that all of the sexual abuse allegations took place between January 21, 2021 and February 26, 2021

The 42-page document showed that all of the sexual abuse allegations took place between January 21, 2021 and February 26, 2021

In January of this year one staff member reported that a fellow employee was allegedly mistreating a seven-year-old boy at the Texas border. No injuries were reported but the incident had not been investigated and was not reported to local law enforcement

In January of this year one staff member reported that a fellow employee was allegedly mistreating a seven-year-old boy at the Texas border. No injuries were reported but the incident had not been investigated and was not reported to local law enforcement

Other cases involved physical fights between peers, such as when a 17-year-old UAC from Guatemala was punched repeatedly in the ribcage while he was lying down at the Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) shelter (pictured) in Baytown, Texas

Other cases involved physical fights between peers, such as when a 17-year-old UAC from Guatemala was punched repeatedly in the ribcage while he was lying down at the Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) shelter (pictured) in Baytown, Texas

The boy's roommate reportedly punched him in the chest repeatedly while he was lying down at the Baptist Children and Family Services (BCFS) shelter in Baytown, Texas.

The attack was not reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) or local law enforcement, according to the documents. 

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told Fox: 'These documents show that not only are there shocking reports of sexual abuse occurring in shelters for unaccompanied children, but that there is violence among the UACs themselves.'

'It is no surprise that Biden administration's enabling of human trafficking has resulted in violence and the abuse of children,' he added.  

Ten of the sexual abuse reports involved 'staff' and 'non-staff' abusing the underage children. Two of the reports were between an UAC and 'other'. 

While many 'non-staff' adults were cited as foster parents in the physical abuse reports, it's unknown what the description meant for sexual abuse allegations. 

The HHS withheld the identities of the attackers and the victims and all names were retracted from the Judicial Watch documents.

Haitian migrants are seen crossing the Rio Grande valley on Monday - some of them families with young children - as thousands more are camped out under a bridge near Del Rio, Texas

Haitian migrants are seen crossing the Rio Grande valley on Monday - some of them families with young children - as thousands more are camped out under a bridge near Del Rio, Texas

US Border Patrol officers cut the way of migrants asylum seekers as they are trying to return to the United States

US Border Patrol officers cut the way of migrants asylum seekers as they are trying to return to the United States

News of the documents came just as Haitian migrants were seen carrying children and food as they tried to escape Border Patrol officers and cross the border into the United States.

Disturbing photos and videos have showed the American officers on horseback waiting on the US side of the Rio Grande as migrants - some of them families with young children - wade through chest-deep waters trying to cross.

Officers can be seen charging their horses toward migrants carrying food and supplies. Some of them are swinging what appears to be lariats.  

Other officials can be seen reaching down to violently grab migrants by the sleeve or collar.

At one point, a Border Patrol officer appears to hit a man, sending him falling back into the water.

Many of those migrants were reportedly already camped out in a makeshift tent city under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas. They had crossed back to Mexico to purchase water, food and diapers in Ciudad Acuña.

Psaki was asked on Monday if there would be consequences against the officers involved.

She didn't say whether they'd lose their jobs but suggested 'they should never be able to do it again'.

Border shelter programs where alleged sexual abuses occurred 

Abbott House TFC

BCFS Raymondville

BCFS San Antonio Staff Secure

Bethany Christian Services TFC Michigan 

Bethany LIRS 

Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers LTFC 

Children First Residential Care TX Sunnyside 

Children's Home of Poughkeepsie - Nuevas Alas Program

CHS Stanford House 

Friends of Youth Colin Ferguson 

Friends of Youth McEachern

Heartland Inti Children's RC 

His House 

Leake and Watts 

Lincoln Hall Boys Haven

Mercy First RTC      

Southwest Key Antigua 

Southwest Key Casa Houston 

Southwest Key Casa Padre

Southwest Key El Presidente

Southwest Key Rio Grande 

Sunny Glen Children's Home New Day Resiliency Center 

SWK Processing Center