Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has intensified his criticism of Democratic rival Xavier Becerra by raising new allegations concerning the handling of migrant children in California during Becerra’s tenure as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary.

Hilton’s campaign released video footage featuring a whistleblower who said she worked at the Pomona Fairplex, one of three California sites used for processing unaccompanied migrant children under the Biden administration. According to the whistleblower, a staff member conducted a background check on an address where more than 200 migrant children had reportedly been sent. The worker reportedly discovered through Google Maps that the location appeared to have no residential housing and subsequently contacted an anti-trafficking hotline. The whistleblower alleges that the worker was fired the following day.

The Pomona Fairplex has been a key facility in California’s efforts to manage the influx of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border. These children are separated from family and placed in temporary shelters as part of federal care and processing protocols.

Hilton’s campaign is using the whistleblower’s account to question the safety and oversight of the migrant children’s placement, suggesting potential negligence during Becerra’s stewardship of Health and Human Services. The allegations highlight concerns about potential trafficking risks and the adequacy of child welfare measures during the migrant crisis.

Becerra’s campaign has not publicly addressed these specific claims. Officials from the Health and Human Services Department have previously stated that the care system for unaccompanied children is governed by strict federal guidelines designed to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

The issue of migrant children’s care has been politically contentious, with both parties debating the adequacy and security of federal and state-run facilities. Republican critics have frequently targeted Democratic policymakers for perceived mismanagement, while Democratic officials emphasize the complexity and humanitarian imperative of managing large numbers of vulnerable migrants.

The allegations emerge as the California gubernatorial race intensifies ahead of the November election, with migration and border security as prominent topics in campaign discourse.