OPINION:
Over the past four years, the humanitarian crisis at our southern border has reached unprecedented levels, exposing the most vulnerable among us to exploitation, abuse and modern-day slavery.
As Americans, we cannot turn a blind eye to the hundreds of thousands of children who are unaccounted for, missing or “sold” into unspeakable circumstances. These heinous crimes are not isolated incidents; they are the direct result of the failed border policies of the Biden-Harris administration.
This administration has not only abdicated its responsibility to secure our borders but, according to whistleblower Tara Lee Rodas, has also become complicit as a middleman in a system that facilitates the exploitation of human lives. By allowing cartels and traffickers to operate with impunity, the government has effectively sanctioned a human trafficking industry that preys on men, women and children. Among the hardest hit is the Hispanic community, with families torn apart and lives irreparably damaged.
The Biden-Harris administration took actions that have weakened the sponsor vetting process and put children in harm’s way. The negligence and lack of oversight has allowed children to be placed in unsafe conditions, exposing them to the risk of exploitation and trafficking.
The Department of Labor compounds the issue with its singular focus on post-harm enforcement. Rather than proactively collaborating with companies to combat illegal child labor, the department’s reactive approach leaves children vulnerable to workplace abuses. This failure to address the root causes of exploitation is yet another example of the administration’s lack of prioritization of child safety.
To make matters worse, the administration continues to obstruct congressional and state investigations into the exploitation and trafficking of unaccompanied children. By withholding critical information and resisting transparency, the administration is impeding efforts to uncover the full scope of this crisis and bring those responsible to justice.
Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming border czar, recently highlighted the devastating impact of sanctuary city policies and border enforcement failures. Speaking on Fox Business, Mr. Homan said that tens of thousands of convicted criminals, including gang members, are roaming freely in cities such as New York.
These criminals are shielded by local leaders more interested in political posturing than public safety. Sanctuary policies embolden traffickers and gangs such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13, which thrive on the chaos that results from weak border enforcement and disjointed immigration policies. This places law-abiding citizens and migrant communities in fear of violence and exploitation.
Rather than addressing these systemic vulnerabilities, the Biden-Harris administration’s policies have encouraged a surge of migrants, many of whom fall prey to traffickers promising safe passage but delivering only exploitation. A report from the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general revealed that hundreds of thousands of children who crossed the border remain unaccounted for, their fates unknown. Each missing child represents a devastating moral failure of this administration’s lack of accountability and oversight.
The Biden-Harris administration cannot hide behind empty rhetoric while ignoring the consequences of its inaction. This crisis is a national moral failing that transcends borders. We have witnessed the devastation wrought by liberal policies of prioritizing politics over people.
It is our duty to shine a light on these atrocities and advocate policies that protect the vulnerable and uphold the rule of law. The Hispanic community, too often exploited and ignored, deserves better. Missing and enslaved children deserve better. And America, as a beacon of freedom and justice, must rise to the occasion.
Mr. Trump has proposed a comprehensive strategy to address these failures, prioritizing public safety and targeting the criminal networks that profit from human suffering. Mr. Homan’s efforts to partner with local law enforcement, utilize federal resources and bring a whole-of-government approach to securing the border offer hope. Holding those responsible for this crisis accountable is equally vital.
The America First agenda offers a path to restore dignity and security at the border. By reestablishing strong enforcement measures, closing loopholes that enable traffickers and fostering collaboration with state and local governments, we can dismantle criminal enterprises profiting from human misery.
This is a defining moment for the soul of our nation.
We must act now to end human trafficking, rescue victims and restore accountability — or risk losing what makes us great. The Biden-Harris administration may have failed, but together — and with the leadership of Mr. Trump and his administration — we can ensure that America does not.
• Bob Unanue is a senior adviser for America First Works. He is president and chief executive officer of Goya Foods and Goya Cares and served as executive producer of the movie “Sound of Freedom.”
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