A 37-year-old undocumented immigrant faces multiple charges of sexual assault after allegedly molesting a teenage girl who was placed in his home through a Biden administration program for unaccompanied migrant children.
According to Daily Wire, Wilson Manfredo Lopez-Carillo was arrested on May 22 by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies in Florida on three counts of sexual assault on a minor.
The victim, who arrived in the United States as a 16-year-old in August 2023, was placed in a home with Lopez-Carillo by the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the government's program for "unaccompanied alien children."
Disturbing assault allegations surface
Police documents reveal the teenager reported three separate instances of sexual assault occurring in February 2024. The attacks allegedly took place when another adult in the household was away selling tamales to support the family, creating opportunities for Lopez-Carillo to isolate and assault the victim.
During one incident, Lopez-Carillo allegedly grabbed the girl in the kitchen, took her to his bedroom, removed her clothing, and sexually assaulted her. In another attack, police say he offered the victim $100 to remain silent, which she refused. The teenager initially didn't report the crimes due to threats of retaliation from her abuser.
The victim was eventually forced to leave the home after another adult in the household became suspicious and confronted Lopez-Carillo. She found refuge with a friend from church, who later became her legal guardian with permission from her parents, and eventually felt safe enough to report the abuse to authorities.
Program critics point to flawed vetting
The case adds fuel to ongoing criticism of the Biden administration's approach to handling unaccompanied migrant children. Under Biden's policies, the government sought to quickly move children out of detention facilities following accusations that the Trump administration kept "kids in cages."
This acceleration created a system where hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children were placed with sponsors who received minimal vetting. Critics argue that since many sponsors are undocumented immigrants themselves, traditional background checks proved ineffective or impossible to complete thoroughly.
Federal whistleblowers have characterized the program as "taxpayer-funded human trafficking," noting that contractors received billions to process children while using makeshift vetting methods like having sponsors text pictures of foreign passports. The system provided no reliable way to verify sponsors' identities or check for criminal records in their home countries.
Missing children raise alarm
A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report from August revealed the government has lost track of approximately 300,000 minors placed through the program. Without proper monitoring capabilities, officials have "no assurance [unaccompanied children] are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor."
The New York Times previously reported that one-third of children placed with sponsors could not be located just 30 days after placement. Adding to concerns, Democrats led by Kamala Harris reportedly pushed to prevent HHS from sharing data with other government agencies, ostensibly to protect privacy.
This information barrier meant local school districts and state child welfare offices often had no knowledge of these children's existence, making it impossible to ensure they were attending school and not being exploited for labor or sex trafficking. Critics note that HHS lacks law enforcement authority to follow up effectively when children disappear.
Exploitation of vulnerable migrants continues
Lopez-Carillo reportedly attempted to justify his actions during a recorded call with the victim arranged by investigators. When confronted about possibly impregnating the minor through unprotected sex, he mentioned giving her "a pill." Court records show he is being held without bail, and a judge has determined he is in the country illegally.
More than 120,000 unaccompanied migrant children entered the U.S. annually during the Biden administration through a program that allows undocumented migrants under 18 to remain in the country if they arrive without parents. Critics argue this policy incentivizes family separation, with parents paying traffickers to transport children across the border alone.
The situation creates perfect conditions for exploitation: these children don't speak English, are underage, may be indebted to cartels, and fear contacting authorities due to their immigration status. Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, has stated that rescuing these missing children is now a priority for the administration.
