Story perspectives

Over 1,000 Migrant Children Report Sexual Abuse Annually

1/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

Since 2015, over 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children have reported sexual abuse annually, per federal records.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services disclosed more than 4,500 allegations from 2015 to 2018, including 178 against staff.
Representative Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) criticized the safety of migrant shelters during a congressional hearing.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has about 13,000 unaccompanied minors in custody, maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse.

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Story summary

Since 2015, over 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children have reported sexual abuse annually, per federal records.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services disclosed more than 4,500 allegations from 2015 to 2018, including 178 against staff.
Representative Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) criticized the safety of migrant shelters during a congressional hearing.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which has about 13,000 unaccompanied minors in custody, maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse.