Tommy Callahan Posted July 19 Posted July 19 Federal authorities announced a lawsuit against the nation's leading housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the U.S., alleging employees at the nonprofit committed "severe sexual abuse" against the minors in its care https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/19/southwest-key-program-sexual-abuse-migrant-children-justice-department/74459342007/ The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the Western District of Texas, against Southwest Key Programs covers over 100 instances of abuse against children ranging in age from 5 to 17 and occurring between 2013 and 2023. Prosecutors allege employees at the Texas-based organization knew about the host of abuses, including rape and coercing nude photos, and failed to protect the children it received billions from the federal government to support, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit comes as the nonprofit's federal funding has grown tremendously and as it has become the government's leading partner in providing housing for tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the border annually, according to the lawsuit. Southwest Key operates 29 shelters; houses 6,350 children across Texas, Arizona, and California; and has received over $3 billion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over the nine years covered by the lawsuit. The lawsuit aims to win a civil penalty for the alleged victims of abuse and a court order requiring Southwest to take steps to avoid future abuse, Justice Department officials said. No criminal charges? 2
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