Nashville Standard

Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green issued a statement recognizing National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. He expressed concern over the rise in human trafficking, attributing it to policies under the Biden-Harris administration.

“The unimaginable horrors men, women, and children face under the scourge of human trafficking are a stain on our humanity," Green stated. He criticized what he described as "open-borders and anti-enforcement policies" that have contributed to the crisis over the past four years. He emphasized the need for change and expressed hope that "the Trump-Vance administration will empower DHS to end cartel control of the Southwest border."

The statement comes after recent hearings by subcommittees on Border Security and Enforcement, and Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability. In November 2024, these subcommittees heard testimony from various experts about how current processes for handling unaccompanied alien children (UACs) have led to an increase in missing and exploited children.

A report by the DHS Office of Inspector General in August 2024 highlighted that since Fiscal Year 2019, more than 291,000 UACs were not given Notices to Appear in court. The report noted significant numbers encountered during FY 2021 alone.

In October 2023, another joint hearing examined how policies have empowered cartels in Mexico to expand human trafficking operations across the Southwest border. This was part of an investigation into DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that led to his impeachment.