Wagner seeks federal protections for Afghan child refugees

U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) earlier this week expressed “deep concern” to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding recent reports of alleged forced marriage and sexual abuse of Afghan child refugees and called on his department to provide a plan for ensuring their safety.

The congresswoman cited a Sept. 3 Associated Press story stating that United States officials have identified several incidents of suspected forced marriage among Afghan girls and older male refugees, who reportedly have raped and sexually assaulted the girls who are trying to flee the Taliban, according to her Sept. 7 letter sent to Blinken.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that every single child under the care of the United States government is protected from sexual exploitation and human trafficking, and the State Department must take all necessary action to protect these vulnerable girls,” Rep. Wagner wrote. “The horror these young girls are enduring is absolutely unacceptable and illegal.”

At the same time, any individual who knowingly entices, harbors or transports a minor and forces the minor to engage in sexual activity is committing human trafficking in violation of title 18 of the U.S. Code, section 1591, according to the lawmaker’s letter, which noted that many of the girls are being housed at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

“As the United States takes the lead in the multilateral fight to end child marriage, we must extend the same efforts to the Afghan children taking refuge on our soil,” wrote Rep. Wagner. “The State Department as well as the Biden administration as a whole must take direct and immediate action to save these girls from exploitation and abuse.”

Rep. Wagner called on the State Department to fully account for the number of children under U.S. care that are suspected victims of forced marriage or sexual assault, and to provide a plan for ensuring the safety and security of “the children married against their will.”  

She requested a detailed response from Secretary Blinken and asked him to address the issue when he testifies before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on Sept. 13. Rep. Wagner is the vice ranking member of the committee.