Several employees at the largest shelter provider for migrant children in the United States have been exposed for sexually abusing minors in their care, the US Department of Justice revealed in a new lawsuit filed throughout the week, as reported by Reuters. 

Allegedly, the lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Texas, found a pattern of "severe or pervasive sexual harassment" dating back to at least 2015 in the network of shelters operated by the non-profit Southwest Key. It is worth noting that the network works with the federal government to receive and provide care for minor unaccompanied migrants arriving in the US. 

It further includes cases of "severe sexual abuse and rape, solicitation of sex acts, solicitation of nude photos, entreaties for sexually inappropriate relationships, sexual comments and gestures." 

Justice Department sues #SouthwestKey for sexual abuse and harassment of children in shelters#civilrights https://t.co/SaCbeycVqr pic.twitter.com/07MDBrVszv

— US Attorney SDTX (@USAO_SDTX) July 18, 2024

Southwest Key runs 29 shelters

When unaccompanied migrant children arrive in the US, they are usually taken into the care of the government before being released to sponsors in the country, normally immediate family such as parents or relatives. 

Southwest Key, being a vital part of the process of providing housing to unaccompanied children migrating to the US, runs 29 shelters across Austin, Texas, and California, funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services. 

The non-profit is being accused of failing to protect the minors it receives or complying with federal requirements for preventing, identifying, and reporting abuse. 

"Sexual harassment of children in residential shelters, where a child should be safe and secure, is abusive, dehumanizing, and unlawful," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement on Thursday. 

Southwest Key spokesperson Anais Biera Miracle stated that the complaint does not accurately reflect their employees' care and dedication to the youth and children. The shelter operator emphasized its ongoing partnership with the US government, which has lasted for the past two decades, to ensure the safety of the children under their care.

Precedents

A 2020 case details the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old boy by a Southwest Key employee. The case, documented by the organization, reports that the employee took the minor to a hotel and paid him for sexual acts. 

Later in 2022, another employee reportedly repeatedly sexually abused a five-year-old girl, an eight-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old girl, at Casa Franklin in El Paso, Texas. The eight-year-old told representatives that the employee had threatened to kill her entire family if she ever spoke about the sexual abuse she was subjected to, according to the complaint. 

Multiple incidents of the US failing to protect migrant minors have been recorded, more so following the surge in cross-border immigration, with cases ranging from sexual abuse to death. 

In 2023, US and Honduran officials confirmed the death of a teenage migrant Honduran boy in US custody after crossing into the US without his family on Friday.

Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina identified him as 17-year-old Angel Eduardo Maradiaga Espinoza who died in the shelter in Safety Harbor, Florida. 

In its statement, the Department said it "is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and our heart goes out to the family, with whom we are in touch," adding that an investigation was launched.

Read more: 8 million migrants to be stuck in US 'legal limbo' by October: Axios