An Immigration and Customs Enforcement pilot of new rapid DNA testing at the border has found that nearly a third of those tested were not biologically related to the children in their custody.
ICE conducted the pilot for a few days earlier this month in El Paso and McAllen, Texas, finding about 30 per cent of those tested were not related to the children they claimed were their own, an official told the Washington Examiner.
The official said that these were not cases of step-fathers or adoptive parents.
‘Those were not the case. In these cases, they are misrepresented as family members,’ the official said.
It is unclear whether every family unit was tested during the pilot, or only those who raised some sort of red flag. An ICE spokesman did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Trump turns Obama-era youth health policy on its head as school fitness benchmark returns
Massie ally sparks backlash after accusing Trump-backed challenger of abusing VA benefits
GOP builds huge cash edge as 2026 midterm outlook darkens
At least five killed and dozens injured in Ukraine in ‘vile’ Russian strike amid ceasefire talk
Border Patrol arrests two illegal aliens convicted of child sex offenses near San Diego in back-to-back busts
Trump opens Hormuz under fire with ‘Project Freedom’ as Iran warns of attacks
Arkansas school director sentenced for being ‘ringleader’ of child fight club
Civil rights groups file lawsuit seeking to block Texas law allowing cops to arrest illegal migrants
Rudy Giuliani’s primary care provider gives update on his condition
Police dog follows his nose to find missing autistic teen screaming for help
Ohio daycare worker convicted of horrific physical abuse of toddlers sentenced to years in prison
Alert: Child Struck by Gunfire as Secret Service Neutralizes Alleged Gunman Near White House
Military-trained fugitive accused of shooting wife eludes manhunt in rural woodlands
Staffer for Dem Sen. Cory Booker Who Brought Gun Into Capitol Without a License Saw Charges Quickly Dropped: DOJ
Video shows Dem candidate dodging Trump violence question as campaign issues response
The official said that some migrants did refuse the test and admit that they were not related to the children they were with, when they learned their claim would be subjected to DNA proof.
ICE said the Department of Homeland Security would look at the results of the pilot to determine whether to roll out rapid DNA tests more broadly.
After President Donald Trump’s administration backpedaled on ‘family separation’ in the face of enormous backlash last summer, the number of family units arriving at the southern border has skyrocketed.
Current U.S. law and policy means that Central Americans who cross the border illegally with children can claim asylum and avoid any lengthy detention in most cases.
US Border Patrol says it has apprehended 535,000 for crossing the border illegally so far this year, with ‘no sign of it getting better.’
Due to massive strain on the processing system, 40,000 of those have been released into communities, the agency said.
On Saturday, the Trump administration told lawmakers that it probably will cost more to care for migrants crossing into the United States from Mexico than the $2.9 billion in emergency money requested just two weeks ago.
Trump turns Obama-era youth health policy on its head as school fitness benchmark returns
Massie ally sparks backlash after accusing Trump-backed challenger of abusing VA benefits
GOP builds huge cash edge as 2026 midterm outlook darkens
At least five killed and dozens injured in Ukraine in ‘vile’ Russian strike amid ceasefire talk
Border Patrol arrests two illegal aliens convicted of child sex offenses near San Diego in back-to-back busts
Trump opens Hormuz under fire with ‘Project Freedom’ as Iran warns of attacks
Arkansas school director sentenced for being ‘ringleader’ of child fight club
Civil rights groups file lawsuit seeking to block Texas law allowing cops to arrest illegal migrants
Rudy Giuliani’s primary care provider gives update on his condition
Police dog follows his nose to find missing autistic teen screaming for help
Ohio daycare worker convicted of horrific physical abuse of toddlers sentenced to years in prison
Alert: Child Struck by Gunfire as Secret Service Neutralizes Alleged Gunman Near White House
Military-trained fugitive accused of shooting wife eludes manhunt in rural woodlands
Staffer for Dem Sen. Cory Booker Who Brought Gun Into Capitol Without a License Saw Charges Quickly Dropped: DOJ
Video shows Dem candidate dodging Trump violence question as campaign issues response
In a White House letter, acting budget chief Russell Vought said ‘the situation has continued to deteriorate and is exceeding previous high end estimates.’
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a separate letter that needs for the unaccompanied children account ‘could grow further and be closer to the worst-case scenario HHS had proposed be the basis for the supplemental request, which was $1.4 billion higher.’
Story cited here.
