On Thursday, the Justice Department revealed charges against three individuals in Ohio who allegedly conspired to smuggle unaccompanied minors across the U.S. border.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche highlighted the indictment of Maritza Azucena Cahuec Coc, Carlos Cahuec Coc, and another defendant, pointing to a larger issue where fraudsters act as “super sponsors” for multiple unrelated minors. He noted that many of these children fall prey to labor or sex trafficking.
“When our government fails to secure the borders, it is the most vulnerable who bear the consequences,” Blanche stated during a press conference.
The indictment, made public in the Northern District of Ohio, lists 19 charges against the accused, including conspiracy to encourage illegal entry into the U.S., making false statements, and identity theft.
The Cahuec Cocs allegedly submitted fraudulent sponsorship applications between December 2020 and October 2023 to gain custody of unaccompanied minors. Also implicated is Gladys Marina Caal Chen, charged with making false statements in a sponsorship application.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized the Biden administration, accusing it of negligence for not adequately vetting sponsors or conducting necessary wellness checks on the children.
“The Biden administration, under true neglect at best and criminal at worst,” allowed 450,000 kids to go missing, he alleged, adding that the Trump administration has so far located 146,000.
The remaining 300,000 remain missing, he added.
Mullin and Blanche did not suggest, however, there were any plans underway to target former Biden administration officials who were involved in the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement for criminal prosecution. The ORR is the agency responsible for caring for unaccompanied minors until they can be connected with sponsors in the U.S., typically family members.
“I’m not indicting past leadership right here on this podium,” Blanche told reporters. “But you can also not ignore what was an incredible dereliction of duty at best.”
DOJ, DHS and HHS officials said on Thursday that they have determined there are more than 81,000 of the same addresses used to repeatedly receive unaccompanied minors.
Angie Salazar, the acting director of the ORR, told reporters that the administration also identified more than 76,000 instances where mandatory safety checks were missing, as well as more than 97,000 cases that lacked background checks.
Salazar said that children who are the victims of crime, even those who are now adults, are eligible to apply for a U-visa. The visas are typically granted to noncitizens who are victims of crime or who have provided substantial assistance to law enforcement.
