WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has called on the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to address the deaths of four migrant children in its custody since March 2023. The senator raised concerns about the lack of changes to ORR’s policies governing the care of migrant children and the explanations for the recent increase in deaths.
According to a recent report, thousands of migrant children with latent tuberculosis (LTBI) were released to adult sponsors in 44 different states over the last year without assurances of treatment. Many of these children did not receive proper treatment for LTBI before being released to sponsors. State health departments, including Virginia, also expressed concerns about delays in ORR reporting LTBI cases. In addition, a 2022 audit by the HHS Inspector General found that ORR did not adequately safeguard children from COVID-19 in its facilities during the surge of migrant children across the southern border in 2021.
Dr. Cassidy emphasized the need for ORR to provide adequate health care to migrant children in its custody and requested further information on improving its practices and ensuring quality care. The senator highlighted the importance of thorough initial medical exams and accurate and timely reporting to prevent outbreaks of preventable yet serious illnesses.
Furthermore, ORR’s temporary Influx Care Facilities (ICFs) and Emergency Intake Sites (EISs) were intended to provide initial, short-term services to children. However, the HHS Office of Inspector General reported that these facilities did not conduct or document all required background checks and did not adequately safeguard unaccompanied children from COVID-19.
In response to these concerns, Dr. Cassidy has submitted a series of detailed questions to ORR, calling for accountability and improved care for unaccompanied children in its custody. The senator’s inquiry includes questions about changes to care policies, the health status of children referred from the Department of Homeland Security, and the reporting of communicable diseases to state and local health departments.
The recent and troubling increase in deaths among unaccompanied children in ORR custody underscores the urgency of addressing these critical issues to prevent future tragedies. Accurate and timely reporting, thorough medical examinations, and improved policies and procedures are imperative to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable children.