And What Trump's New Administration Is Doing About It
Separating memes from truth, and why the real scandal is even worse than the soundbites suggest.
There’s a meme making its rounds right now screaming that 350,000 migrant children are missing after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border under Biden. It sounds horrifying — and it should raise alarms. But like so much of what filters through social media, the real story is both more complicated and, frankly, even more shameful.
Let’s break it down with truth, clarity, and righteous skepticism — because vulnerable children deserve better than bureaucratic indifference and political deflection.
What the Numbers Actually Say
First, the viral number:
The figure of “350,000 missing” could be technically called a distortion.
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General report found that between 2019 and early 2023, 291,000 children had not been properly issued Notices to Appear (NTAs) in court, and 32,000 children failed to show up for court dates.
These are serious failures. But — and this matters — initial records for these children exist. They were processed, logged, assigned case numbers. It’s not that they “vanished into thin air” without documentation. It’s that once placed with sponsors, the government often lost track of them.
Does that make it and better or less horrifying? No. But if you’re like me, you imagined thousands of children crossing the border with zero adult intervention or rescue, and straight into the abyss. (Also, no one is suggesting that that exact scenario hasn’t happened, too. We know it has.) But, if there is to be a bright sot, it’s that these kids “exist” in the system. More good news coming on that after we hit a few more facts.
Trump vs. Biden: Two Very Different Responses
Let’s set the record straight on who owns what:
The problems began late in Trump’s first term (2019–2020), during a time of overwhelmed immigration systems and court backlogs. However, the numbers ballooned and system failures exploded under Biden’s administration (2021-2025).
Biden’s policies — especially massive “catch and release” programs and fast-tracking sponsor placements — made the situation dramatically worse. Vetting was rushed, tracking was sloppy, and once children were placed, the government made little meaningful effort to follow up.
Trump’s current administration (2025-) is actively trying to fix this disaster:
Ordered audits to locate lost children.
Tightening sponsor vetting (including biometrics).
Investigating NGOs that cut corners in placing minors.
Making post-placement follow-up a requirement, not an afterthought.
Summary: Biden’s team let the problem spiral. Trump’s team is trying to clean it up.
The “Ghost Flights” Controversy: Fact or Fiction?
You may have seen viral videos of children being flown to states like New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania in the dead of night.
Here are the facts:
These flights did happen during the Biden administration.
They were organized by HHS to move migrant children from border holding facilities to shelters or sponsors.
Flights often landed late at night — allegedly for logistical reasons, but without notifying local authorities.
Was it a “secret operation”? Not completely — but the lack of transparency was appalling (and completely sketchy).
And let’s be real:
“The primary issues lie in the lack of transparency with local authorities and — ahem — potential shortcomings in the sponsor vetting process (You think?!).”
When government agencies quietly move tens of thousands of children without telling anyone, it absolutely breeds distrust — and rightly so.
Why This Matters (and Why Christians Should Care Deeply)
Children — made in the image of God — deserve protection. Full stop.
Neglecting basic safeguards isn’t just a “policy failure.” It’s a moral failure.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18
Whether it’s one child or 350,000, every single soul matters. When government systems prioritize expedience over care, it’s the vulnerable who suffer most. And yes, I’m giving quite the benefit of doubt over the nefarious beliefs regarding what happened with these children.
As believers, we are called to seek truth, demand justice, and act as voices for those who cannot advocate for themselves. This scandal — a bit distorted by memes but very real at its core — demands that we stay vigilant and vocal.
Final Thoughts
The left would rather you believe this is just an “administrative hiccup.” The right sometimes exaggerates the numbers for the sake of impact. But the real middle ground truth?
No, 350,000 children didn’t just vanish without records.
Yes, thousands have fallen through the cracks, and it’s a national disgrace.
Yes, the Biden administration worsened the problem dramatically, and the Trump administration is actively working to fix it.
The real tragedy isn’t that 350,000 kids “disappeared.”
It’s that thousands were handed over to strangers, lost in broken systems, and forgotten by the very nation that promised them refuge.
Truth matters. Children matter. And accountability must matter too.
(Share this if you believe children deserve real protection — not political excuses.)
