AUSTIN, Texas — Catholic immigration and anti-trafficking advocates are expressing grave concern over alleged systemic sexual abuse of unaccompanied migrant children by staff of a private contractor for the U.S. government. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit July 17 against Southwest Key Programs, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit that provides the majority of housing for unaccompanied minors in the U.S., funded by more than $3 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement between fiscal years 2015 and 2023. The DOJ’s complaint alleges that Southwest Key violated the Fair Housing Act by permitting employees to engage in systemic sexual abuse and harassment of more than 100 unaccompanied children in the nonprofit’s care. “This lawsuit showcases the urgent need for rigorous oversight and accountability in facilities housing migrant children,” said Katie Boller Gosewisch, executive director of the Alliance to End Human Trafficking.
