2 days Ago By Darlene McCormick Sanchez
Becerra responded that sponsors were required to undergo “extensive background checks,” which could include criminal record checks, fingerprinting, and identification documentation. Democrats on the subcommittee defended Becerra, with ranking subcommittee member Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) calling the proceedings a “show hearing.
” “These children are not lost,” she said. Jayapal said that HHS makes three follow-up phone calls to the sponsors and children, but they cannot be forced to respond or follow up. She pointed out that in 2018, under the first Trump administration, some 1,500 children were “lost.
” The regulations also codified the current requirement that an at-home study be conducted before releasing a child to a nonrelative sponsor who is attempting to sponsor multiple children, who previously sponsored a child, or if the nonrelative child is under 12 years old, she said..
