The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Southwest Key Programs Inc., the largest housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the US, alleging a shocking pattern of sexual abuse and harassment by employees over at least eight years. The lawsuit details disturbing offenses, including rape, solicitation of sex, and threats to maintain silence.
Southwest Key Programs Inc. operates 29 child migrant shelters across Texas, Arizona, and California, with a capacity for over 6,300 children. The organization has received more than $3 billion in government contracts from 2015 to 2023.
Health and Human Services reported over 6,000 children in its facilities on June 17, with Southwest Key housing a significant number of them. The lawsuit cites over 100 reports of sexual abuse or harassment at Southwest Key shelters since 2015, with specific instances of abuse detailed, such as an employee sexually abusing young girls and paying a boy for sexual acts.
The lawsuit also highlights the failure of some staff to report or address the ongoing abuse, with children being threatened with violence if they spoke out. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra expressed serious concerns about Southwest Key's practices and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of abuse.
Attorneys involved in court oversight of unaccompanied children expressed shock and disgust at the allegations, calling for aggressive measures to ensure the safety of children currently placed at Southwest Key facilities. The lawsuit comes in the wake of Texas revoking licenses for facilities housing migrant children, raising concerns about oversight and accountability.
As the case unfolds, there are calls for accountability from both the government and the organization to address the grave injustices experienced by these vulnerable children.
