DHS Secretary Noem on Cartels Exploiting Unaccompanied Minors at the Border

Border Wall Expansion

• 🚧 Seven more miles of border wall are under construction, marking the first expansion since President Trump's second term.
• 💰 This project is estimated to cost over $70 million.

Unaccompanied Minors and Exploitation

• 🧒 DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen discussed concerns regarding unaccompanied minors entering the country.
• 📈 Under the Biden administration, over 540,000 unaccompanied minors entered, exceeding the previous six years combined.
• ❓ Approximately 320,000 of these minors were unaccounted for after their arrival.
• ⚠️ Secretary Nielsen stated that cartels and gangs are exploiting the unaccompanied minor program, with members as young as 12 or 13 engaging in criminal activities.
• 💡 This exploitation makes them less noticeable in communities until crimes are committed, effectively acting as a "green light walk in" due to their unaccompanied status.
• 🗣️ This information was initially flagged by former HSI special agent Victor Ayala and corroborated by the Secretary.

Guantanamo Bay Usage

• ✈️ Guantanamo Bay was used to make space for individuals, but will continue to be utilized for ICE arrests and deportations.