Supervisor Desmond has sent a letter to the Federal Government and President Biden urging them to reimplement DNA testing at our Southern Border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped all DNA testing for families at the U.S. southern border on May 31, 2023. Supervisor Desmond believes this is the wrong decision in light of the rise in human trafficking and missing children coming across the border.
Dear President Biden,
The recent termination of DNA family testing, by the Biden Administration, is a distressing decision that puts innocent lives at risk and undermines our commitment to combating the heinous crimes of human trafficking and child exploitation. As a Supervisor of San Diego County, we must take swift, resolute action to reinstate DNA testing without delay.
The reports of individuals fraudulently claiming children as their own and subsequently separating them from their true guardians are harrowing and unacceptable. This inhumane practice must be brought to an immediate halt through the reinstatement of DNA testing.
The stark humanitarian crisis we face demands immediate and effective solutions. Cartels and coyotes exploit innocent children as pawns in their criminal enterprises, subjecting them to unthinkable horrors such as sexual abuse and trafficking. It is unconscionable that we would, in any way, curtail measures to protect these vulnerable individuals.
Mandatory DNA testing, accompanied by severe penalties for adults who resist compliance, is a rational and morally imperative step toward dismantling the vile practice of using children for criminal purposes.
Moreover, the unsettling prevalence of human trafficking in border communities, including the alarming statistics in San Diego, paints a dire picture of the consequences of inaction. We must confront this issue head-on. San Diego, among other border regions, has become a hotbed for human trafficking, with staggering numbers of victims forced into unimaginable suffering. Our collective duty is to protect these children from exploitation and to dismantle the structures that allow such crimes to thrive.
I call on you and the Federal government to prioritize the well-being and safety of children above all else. This issue transcends political boundaries, demanding our collective action and unwavering commitment. Do not ignore this call to action, for we will not relent until our borders are secure, our children protected, and our future brighter.
Sincerely,
JIM DESMOND
Fifth District Supervisor
County of San Diego
