Podcast Summary: The Matt Walsh Show – Ep. 1609: "How Biden’s Border Policy Turned Into A Child Trafficking Operation"

Introduction

In Episode 1609 of The Matt Walsh Show, released on June 5, 2025, Matt Walsh delves into the alarming transformation of President Joe Biden’s border policy into what he terms a child trafficking operation. Drawing comparisons to the former Trump administration's controversial handling of unaccompanied minors, Walsh argues that Biden's approach has inadvertently facilitated human trafficking and endangered countless children.

From "Kids in Cages" to Sponsor Housing

Walsh begins by revisiting the media frenzy during the Trump administration, where images of unaccompanied minors in detention facilities—referred to disparagingly as "cages" by critics—sparked national outrage. He states:

"It wasn't so long ago that the absolute worst thing the government could do to a child, according to pretty much every expert, NGO and media mouthpiece on the planet, was to put that child in a quote unquote cage." [02:15]

Contrasting this, the Biden administration pledged to abandon such detention methods. Instead, they implemented a policy of placing unaccompanied minors with "sponsors"—adults willing to house these children. Walsh questions the efficacy and safety of this approach, highlighting the lack of accountability and oversight.

Unintended Consequences: Rise in Unaccompanied Minor Entries

Walsh asserts that Biden’s policies unintentionally encouraged more children to cross the border unaccompanied, leading to a surge in attempts by minors to enter the United States. He points out:

"The number of unaccompanied minors attempting to enter this country increased by more than 100% under Biden to more than 130,000 children per year." [05:42]

Loss of Oversight and Accountability

A critical point raised by Walsh involves the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary's admission that once children are placed with sponsors, the government loses track of their whereabouts:

"We completely lost track of these children." [06:36]

This admission underscores the systemic failure to ensure the safety and well-being of these minors after their relocation.

Case Study: Sexual Abuse by a Sponsor

Walsh presents a disturbing case to illustrate his argument. He references an incident where a 16-year-old girl, placed with a 37-year-old illegal immigrant man, was allegedly sexually abused multiple times within months of her arrival:

"They put her with a known criminal who they could not vet in any meaningful way." [12:10]

The case is further complicated by extensive redactions in legal documents, preventing a full understanding of the extent of the abuses and the administration’s accountability.

Inspector General’s Report and Institutional Inaction

Referencing a report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General, Walsh emphasizes the scale of the issue:

"Something like 300,000 minors are unaccounted for." [14:30]

He criticizes ICE’s limited authority to intervene in unsafe conditions and accuses federal authorities of deliberate negligence, fostering an environment where trafficking can thrive unchecked.

Political Resistance and Lack of Accountability

Walsh highlights the bipartisan challenges in addressing the issue. He cites attempts by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to investigate and regulate the HHS program, only to face significant pushback and obstruction from the Biden administration:

"HHS would repeatedly take months to respond to Cassidy's requests, and sometimes the department would not respond at all." [20:05]

Conclusion: Advocating for a Secure Border

Concluding his argument, Walsh asserts that the only viable solution to prevent further exploitation and trafficking of children is the establishment of a secure and strictly enforced border. He warns that without such measures, the plight of thousands of vulnerable children will continue unabated:

"In the end, the only sustainable solution is a secure border, one that's ruthlessly enforced in a way that might make some liberal women uncomfortable." [28:45]

Key Takeaways

• Policy Shift: Transition from detaining minors in facilities to housing them with sponsors has led to loss of oversight.
• Increased Risk: Surge in unaccompanied minor entries due to perceived leniency in border policies.
• Systemic Failures: HHS admits to losing track of children post-placement, indicating severe accountability gaps.
• Case Illustrations: Instances of abuse under the Biden administration’s sponsorship program highlight potential dangers.
• Political Obstacles: Efforts to investigate and rectify the situation are met with administrative resistance.
• Call to Action: Advocacy for secure border measures to prevent child trafficking and ensure the safety of minors.

Notable Quotes

• Matt Walsh on detention vs. sponsor housing: "The Biden administration was effectively encouraging children to cross the border without a legal guardian." [07:28]
• HHS Secretary's admission: "We completely lost track of these children." [06:36]
• On the necessity of a secure border: "Unless we want tens of thousands more children to suffer untold horrors with their sponsors, we simply have no choice." [28:45]

Final Thoughts

Matt Walsh’s episode presents a stark critique of the Biden administration’s border policies, alleging that well-intentioned efforts to humanize immigration have backfired, resulting in increased child trafficking and endangerment. By intertwining personal anecdotes, policy analysis, and documented cases, Walsh calls for immediate and decisive action to secure the nation’s borders and protect its most vulnerable inhabitants.