Rep. Lee, Colleagues Press HHS on Decision to Detain Migrant Children at Facility with Documented Abuse Record

Text of Letter (PDF)

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 31, 2026 - Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Acting Director Angie Salazar demanding answers about ORR's decision to place unaccompanied migrant children at Abraxas Academy in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, despite the facility's extensive record of documented child abuse violations.

The lawmakers expressed "extreme concern" over ORR's decision to award Abraxas Alliance a $9.2 million contract in August 2025 despite Pennsylvania officials documenting serious deficiencies and revoking one of the facility's licenses.

"It is appalling that ORR nevertheless decided to house unaccompanied minors in a facility with such a record, thereby potentially exposing these children to the possibility of abuse and in violation of federal rules," the Members wrote.

The letter details a troubling history at the facility, including repeated state findings of physical mistreatment of minors, allegations of sexual harassment and abuse by staff, and a pattern of institutional failures spanning more than two decades. Federal law requires ORR to place children in "the least restrictive setting that is in the best interests of the child," yet children at the facility are reportedly being housed in locked cells.

The lawmakers also cited concerns stemming from a July 8, 2026 oversight visit by Rep. Dean, during which facility staff were reportedly unable to answer basic questions about allegations of abuse or explain legally required procedures for children who turn 18 while in ORR custody. "This utter lack of knowledge of the basic, legally required functions of this facility raises serious concerns about the safety of the children living inside," the letter states.

The Members are demanding answers by August 14, 2026, including:

• Who approved the decision to place children at Abraxas Academy and what child welfare assessments were conducted.
• Why ORR proceeded with the contract despite Pennsylvania's documented findings of abuse and licensing violations.
• Whether HHS has reviewed other ORR-contracted facilities for compliance with state and federal child welfare standards.
• Why some children with parents or close relatives in the United States were reportedly placed in ORR custody instead of being reunited with family.
• What safeguards exist to protect children from abuse and how staff are trained.
• The nature of the financial and operational relationship between Abraxas Alliance and GEO Group.

In addition to seeking answers, the lawmakers urged HHS to immediately review all facilities used by ORR, suspend its contract with the Morgantown Abraxas Academy pending a full investigation, and provide Congress with a complete accounting of how the placement decision was made.

"The federal government bears a solemn responsibility to ensure the proper treatment and protection of every child in its care," the Members wrote. "Allowing any child to be placed in an environment with a history of abuse is cruel and undermines the moral leadership of the United States."

Congresswoman Summer Lee has been a leading voice in Congress demanding accountability, transparency, and an end to ICE's cruel detention and deportation system. She has called to abolish ICE and oppose billions in additional ICE funding, introduced legislation to end ICE detention and redirect funding toward care, due process, and community-based services, demanded answers from ICE after the detention of a Brentwood asylum seeker, visited and called for the closure of the Moshannon Detention Facility following reports of abuse, retaliation, and a hunger strike, and recently conducted oversight of ICE detention conditions at Moshannon Valley ICE Detention Center after being illegally denied entry. She also released a statement after public reporting confirmed that the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death of Daphy Michel, a 31-year-old Haitian immigrant who died after being released from ICE custody, a homicide.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania's infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.