US Justice Department Alleges Sexual Abuse by Employees at Southwest Key Shelters for Migrant Children

The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit alleging that employees of Southwest Key, the largest provider of housing for unaccompanied migrant children at the US southern border, have been sexually abusing and harassing the children in their care for nearly a decade.

Southwest Key operates 29 shelters across Texas, Arizona, and California, providing housing and food for undocumented children aged 13 to 17, primarily from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, who crossed the US-Mexico border without their parents. These children stay at the shelters until they are reunited with immediate family members or placed with a vetted sponsor while their immigration cases are processed.

The organization has partnered with the federal government on border immigration issues for nearly 20 years, receiving over $6 billion in federal funding since 2008 from various departments, including Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Justice.

According to the lawsuit, from at least 2015 through 2023, multiple Southwest Key employees allegedly subjected unaccompanied children to repeated and unwelcome sexual abuse, harassment, and misconduct. The allegations include severe sexual abuse and rape, solicitation of sex acts and nude photos, inappropriate sexual comments and gestures, leering, and inappropriate touching. In some instances, employees reportedly threatened children to keep silent about the abuse.

The Justice Department seeks to have Southwest Key's practices declared discriminatory, in violation of the Fair Housing Act, and is seeking monetary damages for the children allegedly harmed, as well as civil penalties against Southwest Key to protect public interest.

US Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas emphasized the devastating impact of the alleged harassment on the children's sense of safety, turning their pursuit of the American dream into a nightmare.

In response, Southwest Key denied the allegations. The organization stated that its primary focus is the safety, health, and well-being of the children and youth in its care. Southwest Key asserted that the lawsuit does not accurately reflect the care and commitment provided by its employees. The organization emphasized its ongoing collaboration with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to ensure the safety of the children during their stay at Southwest Key shelters.