During a primetime speech at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, accused the Biden administration of transforming the federal government into a "child trafficking ring." He referenced a report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which noted that over 300,000 migrant children had either missed immigration court hearings or had not received notices to appear. RFK Jr. claimed this situation created a system that enabled child traffickers and argued that HHS had become complicit in trafficking for sex and slavery, calling the federal government the "biggest child trafficking operation in world history." The HHS report itself did not suggest that all 300,000 children were immediately trafficked or that the government was directly involved in trafficking. Instead, it indicated that these children were "at higher risk for trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor." RFK Jr. emphasized that his department was actively working to locate and assist these children, though critics argue that his statements may have exaggerated the situation or ignored the complexities of immigration and child welfare policies. Kennedy's remarks came amid the Trump administration's focus on mass deportations as a political strategy leading up to the midterm elections. The administration has tied economic issues, such as high gasoline prices, to the presence of immigrants in the U.S. Kennedy has faced criticism for decisions made under his leadership, including the layoff of food inspectors linked to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. In addition to his comments on immigration, Kennedy criticized Democrats for calling him a "fool" for trusting former President Donald Trump, asserting that Trump had kept all his promises. As HHS secretary, Kennedy has challenged scientific consensus on vaccines and autism, and has supported initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on processed foods. In August, Trump signed an executive order altering the childhood vaccine schedule, a move Kennedy described as a significant political victory.