Scandal at Southwest Key: Allegations of Abuse in Migrant Shelters

Employees of Southwest Key Programmes Inc, the largest housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the US, have been accused of sexual abuse and harassment. The abuse spanned over eight years, leading to multiple criminal charges. The Justice Department is investigating, while Southwest Key disputes these allegations.

Employees of Southwest Key Programmes Inc, the largest housing provider for unaccompanied migrant children in the US, have been accused of sexually abusing and harassing children under their care for at least eight years. The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit citing numerous offenses while the company amassed billions in government contracts.

The lawsuit, filed this week, alleges that employees, including supervisors, engaged in rape, solicitation of sex, and nude images of children as early as 2015. Two employees have been indicted on criminal charges since 2020. Questions remain unanswered regarding the current occupancy in Southwest Key's shelters across three states.

The Justice Department reports more than 100 cases of sexual abuse or harassment at Southwest Key shelters since 2015, with some employees threatening children to ensure their silence. Southwest Key refutes the allegations, asserting it provides quality care for children.