‘Deplorable’: ICE Hires Firm Accused of ‘Torture’ to Track Down Undocumented Children

ICE has awarded a contract to MVM Inc — a longtime federal security contractor based in Ashburn, Virginia — to help locate unaccompanied immigrant children placed with sponsors, under what the agency calls the “UAC Safety Verification Initiative.” MVM was previously sued for physically separating thousands of children from their parents using unmarked vehicles during the 2018 family-separation policy, with that lawsuit alleging “torture” and “enforced disappearance.” “MVM has harmed children in federal immigration custody in egregious ways for many years now,” said Neha Desai of the National Center for Youth Law, adding that the welfare checks have “already terrorized numerous children and have led to family separation throughout the country.” DHS says the primary focus is to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation; MVM did not respond to a request for comment.