The Tornillo Influx Care Facility: Concerns About Staff Background Checks and Number of Clinicians on Staff

The memorandum was issued in response to two significant vulnerabilities identified by OIG during a site visit to the influx care facility in Tornillo, Texas (Tornillo), a grantee of the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Program operated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Specifically, OIG found that Tornillo is not conducting required Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint background checks for staff working at Tornillo, instead using checks conducted by a private contractor that has access to less comprehensive data. Secondly, OIG found that Tornillo does not employ a sufficient number of staff clinicians to provide adequate mental health care for UAC. Both issues warrant immediate attention because they pose substantial risks to children receiving care at this facility.