By MARY CLARE JALONICK and GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press

(WASHINGTON, AP) — A congressional probe finds that inadequate screening endangered migrant children in the government’s care.

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio says the department of Health and Human Services was overwhelmed by children crossing the border and weakened its child protection policies, leaving the children vulnerable to human trafficking. Portman chairs a Senate subcommittee holding a hearing Thursday on weaknesses in the department’s placement of migrant children.

An investigation by the subcommittee echoes findings of an Associated Press investigation that found more than two dozen unaccompanied children were sent to homes across the country where they were sexually assaulted, starved or forced to work for little or no pay.

Senior HHS officials are scheduled to testify at the hearing.