Biden Administration Struggles With Child Labor Problem Amid Illegal Immigration Surge

Unaccompanied minors wait to be processed by Border Patrol agents near the U.S.–Mexico border in La Joya, Texas, on April 10, 2021. John Moore/Getty Images

The Biden administration has vowed to crackdown on a surge in the illegal exploitation of children for labor in the United States, citing a nearly 70 percent increase in kids being employed illegally by companies over the past five years.

The Department of Labor (DOL) said in a statement on Feb. 27 said that it is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to combat child labor nationwide and is establishing a new interagency task force to deal with the issue.