Republican California governor candidate Steve Hilton confronted Democrat Xavier Becerra over migrant children during their gubernatorial debate. Hilton accused the former HHS secretary of failing to protect unaccompanied minors placed with sponsors. The exchange intensified their immigration clash and centered on Becerra’s federal record.
In the clip, Hilton said Becerra was responsible for 479,000 unaccompanied migrant children while leading HHS. He accused Becerra of dismantling vetting meant to place children with safe families or sponsors. Hilton also alleged that thousands were sent into the hands of sex and labor traffickers.
He further claimed hundreds of thousands remained missing, including 100,000 children under 10. Hilton did not provide supporting evidence for those figures during the clip. He then demanded an apology and accused Becerra of avoiding responsibility.
“I cannot believe that you haven’t apologised,” Hilton said. He also questioned how Becerra could “stand here lecturing people about immigration.” The exchange left Becerra’s HHS record at the center of Hilton’s attack.
Xavier Becerra Faces Backlash Over Migrant Children After California Governor Debate
The exchange quickly turned into a fight over whether Becerra had answered Hilton’s accusations or sidestepped them.
“That man should be in prison NOT running for office!!” one user wrote. Another focused on his response: “He didn’t even say Steve was wrong. He just said the number didn’t add up.”
“No apology no guilt no shame,” another response stated. A separate user added, “That truly was shameful. He showed he does not care about those missing kids…”
Not everyone accepted Hilton’s framing. One response said Becerra “needed to sip the coffee to stay calm from all the misinformation coming out of your mouth!!”
Another turned the criticism back on Hilton: “We all see your hypocrisy. Your pseudo caring about children falls flat.”
Becerra and Hilton remain opponents in California’s closely watched governor’s race, with the November election drawing nearer. Their dispute over Becerra’s record as HHS secretary — particularly his department’s handling of unaccompanied migrant children — has become another point of contention in the campaign. As voters weigh the candidates and their records, the exchange has added another contentious issue to an already competitive race.
