The Biden administration lost track of more than 300,000 migrant children because they were prioritizing speed over security, as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently explained. These kids were handed off to anyone without background checks. He told one horror story of the same individual picking up dozens of children using different names, with addresses that included strip clubs, empty parking lots, and so on. The fear, of course, is that these children are at risk of sexual abuse, trafficking and forced labor. Now that the Trump administration is trying to find them, the media is unsurprisingly twisting the narrative, claiming federal immigration enforcement officers are targeting these kids for deportation.
Calling out the Miami Herald, the White House and DHS are setting the record straight on the purpose of their efforts.
"This is an absolute embarrassment to journalism.This story is completely false," said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. "President Trump and Secretary Noem take the responsibility to protect children seriously and are working with law enforcement to reunite the hundreds of thousands of migrant children the Biden Administration lost. Many of the unaccompanied children who came across the border are victims of smugglers and sex traffickers. @DHSgov is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure they are safe and not being exploited."
This is an absolute embarrassment to journalism.
— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) June 25, 2025
This story is completely false as we told @MarbinMiller @syraob @anaceballos_ .
President Trump and Secretary Noem take the responsibility to protect children seriously and are working with law enforcement to reunite the hundreds… https://t.co/P82sJzO9gf
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson called the report "outrageously offensive spin."
"Biden turned a blind eye while countless children were illegally smuggled and sex-trafficked across the border," she said in one post on X. "Then, the Biden Admin lost track of TENS OF THOUSANDS of kids. The Trump Admin is finding the kids Biden lost. That's the real story."
Outrageously offensive spin. Biden turned a blind eye while countless children were illegally smuggled and sex-trafficked across the border. Then, the Biden Admin lost track of TENS OF THOUSANDS of kids.
— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) June 25, 2025
The Trump Admin is finding the kids Biden lost. That's the real story. https://t.co/T7uSE3PAAp
This is disgusting and false reporting from the@MiamiHerald.
— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) June 25, 2025
The Trump Administration is working to find the hundreds of thousands of kids that Joe Biden turned over the sex-traffickers, pedophiles, and forced labor. https://t.co/nWtu4HKTx0 pic.twitter.com/hLL2AOkw6f
Apparently the Miami Herald is upset that migrant kids aren’t being smuggled across the border to forced labor and sex traffickers anymore like they were during The Biden Admin.
— Abigail Jackson (@ATJackson47) June 25, 2025
President Trump is cleaning up Joe Biden’s mess and rescuing the kids Biden left behind. https://t.co/T7uSE3PAAp pic.twitter.com/S1hZcd8AVq
“Under Joe Biden’s watch, hundreds of thousands of migrant kids were trafficked across the border, many turned over to pedophiles and forced labor. We are rescuing the children Joe Biden condemned," said border czar Tom Homan. "The Miami Herald should report on that.”
