A new lawsuit accuses the largest provider of housing for unaccompanied migrant children of fostering widespread sexual abuse that spanned nearly a decade. In the lawsuit announced on Thursday, July 18, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said that Southwest Key Programs employees, including supervisors, raped, solicited nude photos and touched children inappropriately in the company’s care. Some of the victims were as young as five years old.
The lawsuit’s details disclose claims of employees threatening violence against children and their families to silence them. The lawsuit also alleges employees used language barriers to hide the abuse.
The Justice Department did not expand on what it plans to do about the alleged abuses, including whether or not it plans to recommend removal of children from the facilities.
Southwest Key Programs runs 29 facilities across three U.S. states. The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) latest numbers reportedly show the company’s facilities housed more than 6,200 children as of June 17.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that the lawsuit raises “serious pattern and practice concerns” about the company. He asserted that the agency has a “zero-tolerance policy” on all forms of sexual abuse and sexually inappropriate behavior.
Southwest Key Programs responded to the lawsuit by saying that it is reviewing the complaint. A spokesperson for the company said that the lawsuit “does not present the accurate picture of the care and commitment our employees provide to the youth and children.”
Texas and Florida revoked the licenses of facilities housing migrant children in 2021 as border crossings surged. However, critics said the move created an oversight gap.
Less than three weeks ago, the DOJ requested special court oversight of HHS care be lifted for unaccompanied migrant kids. The Biden administration argued that the new federal safeguards meant that the previous oversight was no longer needed. The oversight had been in place for 27 years.
An attorney representing the migrant children housed at Southwest Key Programs blamed Texas’ revocation of licenses for care providers. She said that she hopes the federal government takes some “responsibility for the role it played.” However, the attorney still commended the lawsuit brought forth by the Department of Justice.
Southwest Key Programs played a key role the United States government as thousands of migrant children arrived at the southern border alone in in recent years.
The company also saw its numbers grow even more amid the separations of thousands of families in 2017 and 2018 under the Trump administration.
The government awarded Southwest Key Programs more than $3 billion from 2015 to 2023.
