Wyden Statement on HHS IG Report that Trump Administration Waived Background Checks for Staff at Tornillo Influx Facility

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement following the release of a report by the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) showing that the administration waived background checks for staff members at the Tornillo Influx facility:

“The Trump administration will stop at nothing to drive its hateful and ineffective anti-immigrant agenda—even if that means putting innocent children in harm’s way.

It is absolutely appalling that HHS would choose to actively override necessary background checks for staff at the Tornillo facility. This report is especially outrageous as the administration at the same time doubled down in its use of more stringent background checks to deter family members from taking care of unaccompanied children. Clearly, child safety is of no concern for this administration.

The Trump administration’s cruelty knows no bounds. It should immediately shut down the facility at Tornillo.”

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