Xavier Becerra’s record at the Department of Health and Human Services is back under scrutiny as he attempts to gain ground in California’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, with renewed focus on how his agency handled a surge of unaccompanied migrant children.
The controversy traces to a period when the federal system was overwhelmed. A sharp increase in minors crossing the border without guardians filled shelters beyond capacity, forcing the government to rely on temporary facilities, including large-scale tent sites. The backlog created pressure inside HHS to move children more quickly out of federal custody and into the care of sponsors.
That push became a central point of criticism.
A 2023 New York Times investigation described internal directives emphasizing speed, including comments attributed to Becerra comparing the process to an assembly line. According to the report, some longstanding safeguards — such as certain background checks and detailed case reviews — were reduced during that period. At the same time, multiple officials within the agency raised concerns that faster placements could increase the risk of exploitation, including labor trafficking.
Data cited in the investigation showed that, over two years, more than 85,000 children could not be reached through follow-up contact attempts. Becerra disputed the characterization that these children were “missing,” stating they had been released to approved sponsors but did not respond to outreach calls. His defenders also pointed to a legal limitation: once a child is placed with a sponsor, direct federal oversight largely ends.
Subsequent watchdog findings added weight to concerns about oversight gaps. The HHS Office of Inspector General reported missing documentation for required safety checks in a portion of cases and noted inconsistent or delayed follow-up efforts. Earlier reviews had already warned that policies designed to accelerate releases may have reduced safeguards.
Congressional Republicans pursued the issue through subpoenas and hearings, seeking more detailed records on sponsor vetting and monitoring. While documents were produced and Becerra testified, lawmakers argued that key questions remained unresolved. In practice, inspector general reports — rather than congressional inquiries — have provided the clearest picture of how the system functioned during that period.
Now, as Becerra campaigns, critics are using those findings to argue his leadership fell short during a high-pressure moment. His allies counter that the situation reflected a strained immigration system dealing with an unprecedented surge, and that decisions were made within those constraints.
