Separated: Inside an American Tragedy

by Jacob Soboroff

Scott Lloyd is “the most prolific child abuser in modern American history.” The official believed Lloyd—head of the agency supposedly responsible for the welfare of migrant children placed in its custody—had abdicated his legal parental authority and custodianship of more than five thousand children. Lloyd was “starry-eyed around Stephen Miller,” yet was blind to warnings coming from his own staff. Lloyd, in a written response, told me he was taken aback by the accusation of child abuse. “There is nothing anyone can point to that would make that statement true. My job was to take care of the kids and unite them with a sponsor. It’s something we did well, and I am proud of the work we did. This person, whoever it is, had the opportunity to air their concerns in person while these events were happening, but instead is choosing to speak anonymously, through the media, two years after the fact. It is a comment that clearly belies everything I have ever done in my professional and personal life. Given all of this, it’s impossible for me to take it seriously.”