Amid Allegations, Migrant Children Removed from Controversial Shelter Program

Trump administration withdraws migrant children from Southwest Key Programs amid disturbing sexual abuse allegations that have prompted federal action against the nation’s largest provider of shelters for unaccompanied minors.

Quick Takes

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced severing ties with Southwest Key Programs following allegations of sexual abuse of migrant children.
The Texas-based nonprofit, which operated 26 shelters across three states, faces accusations including rape and inappropriate touching of children as young as 5 years old.
All unaccompanied migrant children previously housed at Southwest Key facilities have been relocated to other shelters.
The Justice Department dismissed its lawsuit against Southwest Key after HHS stopped child placements.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi declared an end to policies that “incentivized” child exploitation at the border.

Sexual Abuse Allegations Prompt Swift Federal Response

The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has announced the immediate removal of all unaccompanied migrant children from Southwest Key Programs facilities following serious allegations of sexual abuse. The Texas-based nonprofit, which had been the largest provider of shelters for unaccompanied minors in the United States since 1996, operated 26 shelters and a foster care program across Texas, Arizona, and California. The disturbing allegations include sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, and solicitation of sex acts from vulnerable migrant children in their care.

The Trump administration’s decision follows a lawsuit originally filed by the previous Biden administration, which accused Southwest Key of a pattern of sexual abuse and harassment of unaccompanied children from 2015 to 2023. According to court documents, the allegations are particularly heinous, with one worker accused of repeatedly abusing several girls, including a child as young as 5 years old. At least two employees have faced criminal charges related to these accusations, highlighting the severity of the alleged misconduct.

Trump Admin Removes Migrant Children From Southwest Key Programs Following Sexual Abuse, Harassment Allegations https://t.co/U5zmBIBwER #OAN

— One America News (@OANN) March 13, 2025

Administration Takes Strong Stance Against Child Exploitation

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized the administration’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children who enter the country illegally declaring, “This administration is working fearlessly to end the tragedy of human trafficking and other abuses of unaccompanied children who enter the country illegally. For too long, pernicious actors have exploited such children both before and after they enter the United States. Today’s action is a significant step toward ending this appalling abuse of innocents.” All children previously housed at Southwest Key facilities have now been relocated to other shelters, effectively ending the organization’s role in caring for unaccompanied minors. The administration’s swift action represents a clear stance against organizations that fail to protect children in their care, regardless of their historical relationship with the federal government.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi reinforced this position, stating that the administration is committed to both protecting children and securing the border. Her comments highlighted a shift in policy from previous administrations, suggesting that weak border enforcement had created conditions that enabled exploitation. The coordinated response between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice indicates a whole-of-government approach to addressing the crisis.

Legal Implications and Organizational Response

Following HHS’s decision to remove children from Southwest Key’s facilities, the Justice Department dismissed its lawsuit against the organization. The dismissal has raised concerns from advocacy groups, including the National Center for Youth Law, which sought to intervene in the case out of concern that children might be denied recourse for harms suffered. Senator Chuck Grassley has contacted the Justice Department seeking clarity on the decision to drop the lawsuit without requiring settlement or payment.

Southwest Key has been forced to issue furlough notices to employees, as a direct result of the government’s stop placement order. The organization described the situation as “challenging and unforeseen,” leading to temporary workforce reductions. Despite requests for comment from multiple news outlets, Southwest Key has provided limited response beyond denying the allegations. The nonprofit’s future remains uncertain as it grapples with the loss of federal funding and severe damage to its reputation.