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Krishnamoorthi presses HHS over migrant child facility
Lawmakers cite abuse allegations and licensing violations at a Pennsylvania facility housing unaccompanied migrant children.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sun, 02, Aug 2026
- 01:23 EDT
- 49
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / IANS
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explain its decision to place unaccompanied migrant children at a Pennsylvania detention facility.
In a July 31 letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Acting Director Angie Salazar, Krishnamoorthi, joined by Reps. Summer Lee, Chris Deluzio, and Madeleine Dean, questioned ORR's decision to house children at Abraxas Academy in Morgantown despite the facility's documented history of child abuse violations and licensing deficiencies.
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The lawmakers said ORR awarded Abraxas Alliance a $9.2 million contract in August 2025 even after Pennsylvania officials documented repeated deficiencies at the facility and revoked one of its licenses.
They called on HHS to review all ORR-contracted facilities, suspend the Abraxas Academy contract pending a full investigation, and provide Congress with a detailed account of how the placement decision was made.
"It is appalling that ORR nevertheless decided to house unaccompanied minors in a facility with such a record, thereby potentially exposing these children to the possibility of abuse and in violation of federal rules," the lawmakers wrote.
According to the letter, Abraxas Academy has a decades-long record of documented problems, including repeated state findings of physical mistreatment of minors, allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by staff, and broader institutional failures.
The lawmakers also cited reports that children are being housed in locked cells despite federal law requiring ORR to place children in "the least restrictive setting that is in the best interests of the child."
The members also raised concerns following a congressional oversight visit to the facility on July 8, during which they said staff were unable to answer basic questions about abuse allegations or explain legally required procedures for children who turn 18 while in ORR custody.
"This utter lack of knowledge of the basic, legally required functions of this facility raises serious concerns about the safety of the children living inside," the lawmakers wrote.
The letter seeks responses from HHS by Aug. 14 on who approved the placements, what child welfare assessments were conducted, why ORR proceeded with the contract despite Pennsylvania's findings, whether other ORR-contracted facilities have been reviewed for compliance with child welfare standards, why some children with parents or close relatives in the United States were reportedly placed in ORR custody instead of being reunited with family, what safeguards exist to protect children from abuse, and the financial and operational relationship between Abraxas Alliance and GEO Group.
"The federal government bears a solemn responsibility to ensure the proper treatment and protection of every child in its care," the lawmakers wrote. "Allowing any child to be placed in an environment with a history of abuse is cruel and undermines the moral leadership of the United States."
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